Tripoli – A new United Nations report highlights Libya’s potential to lead disaster risk reduction efforts in the Arab world.
The report, released by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, examines how Arab states are advancing disaster risk knowledge and governance by sharing expertise and practical experiences. It notes that Libya’s National Center for Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management, in partnership with the UN offices and the World Food Programme in Libya, recently hosted a two-day regional workshop in Tripoli.
The workshop brought together government officials, disaster management agencies, UN bodies, and experts from Libya, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Oman, Somalia, and Yemen. Participants exchanged lessons on disaster risk reduction and governance, focusing on data management, early warning systems, preparedness, recovery, and institutional coordination. Attendees reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening risk governance, boosting awareness, and promoting sustainable development across the region.
The report said the workshop underlined the growing importance of cooperation among regional states facing shared and interconnected risks. Libyan, UN, and regional representatives stressed the value of building national capacities and learning from neighboring countries’ experiences.
The importance of preparedness was underscored by the experience of Derna, where devastating floods in September 2023 caused severe loss of life and property. Mohammad Sheikh, WFP Country Director in Libya, noted that the impact extended beyond immediate casualties to threaten food security, market access, and nutritional status for vulnerable groups.
Sheikh emphasized the need for effective risk management, early warning, and disaster reduction measures, saying, “As in medicine, prevention is better than cure.” He cited UN data showing that every dollar invested in disaster risk and early warning systems can save between three and seven dollars.
Sheikh said Libya already possesses the political framework and institutional resources to become a regional leader in disaster risk reduction. He highlighted the roles of the National Disaster Management Council and National Economic and Social Development Council, adding that the country’s food security strategy prioritizes crisis preparedness and response.
Ulrika Richardson, the UN Resident Coordinator and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Libya, said disaster risk reduction is an urgent and very personal issue for Libyans, who face floods, wildfires, drought, sandstorms, and increasing climate-driven hazards. She said these risks especially affect women, children, displaced people, and marginalized communities, and emphasized a people-centered approach to ensure safety and dignity.
Richardson outlined three reasons for the workshop’s significance. First, she said, “Knowledge is power.” South-South cooperation allows countries facing similar challenges to share workable solutions, citing examples from Bahrain, Oman, Somalia, and Egypt. Second, she noted the necessity of partnerships, since disasters demand coordination across sectors and levels of government. Third, she stressed that results must translate into stronger capacities, better systems, and practical plans to protect communities.
She added, “As Egypt’s experience shows, our success is measured not by written strategies, but by the safety of the people we serve.” She reaffirmed the UN’s support for Libyan institutions, while maintaining that leadership remains with the Libyan people.
The report highlighted Libya’s efforts to strengthen disaster risk management and institutional coordination, noting that establishing the National Center for Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management was a strategic step toward a fully integrated national risk management system. The center’s director, Fetouri Issa, said it coordinates efforts among ministries and leads national preparedness, response, and recovery initiatives.
Sandra Amlang, Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction for the Arab States, said the region faces increasingly complex and interconnected dangers caused by climate change, rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, conflict, and displacement. She pointed out that disasters like Cyclone Daniel exposed the consequences of extreme risks for vulnerable communities and weak infrastructure, as well as existing gaps in disaster management.
Amlang stressed the importance of moving recovery efforts beyond rebuilding assets to also reducing future risks, strengthening institutions, and ensuring infrastructure and communities are resilient to future shocks. She said the workshop demonstrated the real value of regional cooperation, with Arab countries sharing proven solutions and practical experience to support one another.