Arab states set up crisis response network

System will link reaction to political upheaval, natural disasters and disease pandemics

ABU DHABI // Arab states are working on a regional emergency network to coordinate their response to crises ranging from political upheaval to armed revolt and natural disasters to disease pandemics.

The Arab League has already set up an early intervention centre to strengthen the capabilities of countries to face risks and emergencies.

The second phase of the project will be a network for all Arab countries to communicate in a crisis, the league’s secretary general Dr Nabil Elaraby told a crisis-management conference yesterday . “Complex events require an ability to read and analyse all the information and to give decisionmakers proper knowledge to make good decisions at good times.

“That requires a rapid ability to gather information … to guarantee effective response and provide good recovery.”

In the past 35 years, the Arab region has faced 272 crises that have led to the deaths of more than 100,000 people. “These challenges … require readiness to deal with all phases of emergencies and ensure their competent management and full recovery,” he said.

Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said conflicts had become more difficult to address while capabilities to solve them had become more limited. “We don’t know where the next crisis will be and unpredictability has become the name of the game.”