Cairo: Lieutenant General Adel bin Khalifa Al Fadhel, Deputy Minister of Interior, participated in the First Arab Regional Forum on Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness, hosted by the Arab League, and attended by ministers, senior officials, representatives of Arab countries, and representatives of relevant regional and international organizations.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Al Fadhel stated that under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and with the support and follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the Kingdom of Bahrain prioritizes enhancing the civil protection system and reducing disaster risks both nationally and within the framework of joint Arab action. He noted Bahrain’s honor in chairing the Arab Coordination Mechanism for Disaster Risk Reduction, leveraging its institutional progress and effective regional and international partnerships in this field.
The Deputy Interior Minister emphasized the ministry’s efforts in establishing a national approach based on proactive risk management, following the instructions of General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Civil Defence Council. This approach includes enhancing the readiness of national institutions, protecting vital infrastructure, updating legislation, and developing effective early warning systems.
Al Fadhel highlighted initiatives such as the activation of the Wireless Emergency Alerts system, which delivers immediate warnings to citizens and residents via smartphones, and the launch of the National Civil Protection Platform as a unified awareness reference for public safety.
He further explained that the forum represents a significant milestone in advancing joint cooperation in emergency management and disaster risk reduction across the Arab region. He stressed that early warning systems and proactive preparedness are crucial for protecting lives and property amidst complex and accelerating global risks, where climate change intersects with various challenges.
He concluded by emphasizing the role of digital transformation and artificial intelligence in developing accurate, multi-channel early warning systems. He also highlighted the importance of building an integrated Arab strategy that incorporates the objectives of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction into development plans.