Minister of Defence Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon has emphasised the necessity of fostering a culture of immediate preparedness to mitigate the potential impact of climate change. He made the remarks during the inauguration ceremony of the First Responders Forum in the Maldives.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Ghassan highlighted the ongoing development of a "National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy" aimed at addressing the consequences of various incidents and disasters. He noted that the strategy will not only facilitate a coordinated response from government institutions but also from the broader society.
Additionally, Minister Ghassan underscored the significance of such forums in demonstrating the Maldives' commitment to addressing the aftermath of natural disasters. He also stressed the importance of cultivating a proactive approach to effectively deal with such occurrences.
Speaking to PSM News, Chief Executive of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Hisaan Hassan shared insights regarding the objectives of the forum. He emphasised its role in convening stakeholders to identify and tackle the challenges associated with disaster response. He also said that discussions will centre around enhancing disaster response mechanisms.
The forum will span two days and will focus on assessing climate change and disaster-related risks on the first day. Subsequently, participants will explore collaborative strategies involving various institutions to mitigate these threats on the second day.
This year's First Responders Forum, organised by the NDMA with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC), and Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC), will address issues ranging from fires and floods to health disasters in the Maldives.