UAE has potential to lead the way towards a disaster-resilient society, says UN Official

By Sumaira FH

The rapid urbanisation of Gulf countries in recent decades has highlighted the urgent need for urban risk management to be understood and put into practice, said a UN official.

Mami Mizutori, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNDRR, explained that this could be attained via building codes, land use regulation, natural resource management, adaptation to climate change and upgrading informal settlements.

Speaking to the Emirates news Agency, WAM, on the sidelines of the World Urban Forum, WUF10, Mizutori said that one of the biggest challenges in UAE, and the middle East region, is to mitigate the risk of potential flooding and the associated damage to people, the environment and the economy.

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"The combination of a naturally hot and arid environment, rapid mass urbanisation, industrial development, a growing population and increased water consumption means that whilst water is a naturally limited supply; when rain comes, the risk of flooding is significant," she explained.

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