NCEMA shapes the future of emergency and crisis in its Sixth International Conference

NCEMA shapes the future of emergency and crisis in its Sixth International Conference

Monday, February 11, 2019

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Advisor to the National Security of the United Arab Emirates, the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) organizes the Crisis & Emergency Management Conference 2019 (CEMC) under the theme “The Future Foresight of Emergencies and Crisis: Capabilities and Challenges” to be held on the 11th and 12th of March 2019 in Abu Dhabi at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort.

In this regard, H.E. Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Hosani, Director-General of the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA), stated that convening this international conference at its sixth session comes under the efforts made to achieve the directives of the wise leadership of the UAE. NCEMA has paid utmost attention to convene international conferences on Emergency, Crisis, and Disasters Management on the UAE land, to leverage international technical expertise and experience that contribute to enhancing its role and capacities in dealing with emergencies, disasters and crises through hosting the largest possible number of qualified specialists and experts in this field from different states, organizations and foundations of the world.

H.E. Dr. Al Hosani has extended his thanks and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Advisor to the National Security of the UAE for his generous patronage to this Conference.

He stated: the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) has become a shining beacon and a leading foundation on the path of progress and development in the UAE thanks to the support of the wise leadership, making NCEMA a spark of activity and creativity, and permanently present at local, regional and international levels. Currently, NCEMA assumes a pioneering role in the field of protecting the national achievements through adopting a national system for emergency, crisis and disaster management.

He also underlined the strategic importance of this conference, which comes forth on the list of goals and objectives that National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, seeks to fulfill in order to raise awareness and improve the performance and effectiveness of emergency responsiveness capabilities in the United Arab Emirates.

He explained that the conference aims at improving the status of emergency, crisis and disasters management and handling in the UAE in particular and the Gulf region and the Middle East in general by enabling its participants to identify international experiences and expertise in depth, particularly in the areas of coordinating the process of crisis management on the one hand and increasing knowledge and raising awareness, and the need to develop a unified and coordinated understanding of emergency, crisis and disaster management on the other.

He mentioned that (CEMC) this year is gaining prominence in light of the threats and various hazards which increase in an alarming rate, the emergence of new complicated types of non-conventional risks and threats, as well as the rapid technological, technical and electronic changes and the resulting threats which require shaping the future properly, preparedness for capacity building to address challenges and risks, and significantly strengthening international cooperation to consider up-to-date methods for disaster and crisis management, to examine global changes in terms of causes, consequences and solutions, and to develop plans, programs and actions required.

Furthermore, he noted that selection of the title “Crisis and Emergency Management Conference 2019 (CEMC) - Capabilities and Challenges” stems from being mindful of the importance of cooperation and collective action at the international level. Through shaping a new future for emergency and crisis management in light of the increasing challenges, in order to establish the foundations for a world without risk or crisis at a time when the hopes are geared towards regaining security, stability, tranquility and prosperity worldwide, and to achieve sustainable development based on the preservation of lives and achievements.

He added that “Crisis and Emergency Management Conference” aims at creating the knowledge, and preparedness of stakeholders in the UAE and the region, identifying modern tools and applications used to deal with potential emergency scenarios, encouraging and organizing collaboration between neighboring countries at the regional level and sharing experiences related to crisis, emergency and disaster management internationally and ensuring the application of best practices in crisis and emergency management.

H.E. Director-General of the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, NCEMA, stated: “The presence of high-level officials, experts and specialists, academics, and interested stakeholders in addition to the critical themes to be addressed by the conference will enhance the global status of this conference. It represents the perfect opportunity to share experiences and expertise, and compendium of knowledge and information which will contribute to the development of ideas resulting in recommendations to illuminate the path to learn about modern advanced techniques to confront disasters and crisis as well as its impacts and implications. Thus helping to reduce human and material losses alike.

He explained that the conferences will discuss a range of themes concerning the future of crisis and disasters management, including the future of emergency management through the use of artificial intelligence, policies and frameworks for disaster risk reduction, preparedness for large incidents, and lessons learned from the crises recovery.

Moreover, the conference will include organizing several workshops on important matters and issues, including the role of the individuals in emergency response - the voluntary emergency response program, expecting the unexpected in the responses to entities in the unforeseen threats environment, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear emergencies, management of major events – Russia World Cup 2018, how to respond to national cyber crisis, and the national early warning system.

The Director-General of the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) underlined that discussing such strategic priorities and important topics and matters at an international conference, emphasizes that States, bodies and local organizations, need to share experiences, expertise and recent developments in this area regardless of the extent of progress they have made during the course of their development.

H.E. Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Hosani, Director-General of the National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) has extended his thanks and appreciation to the supporting and sponsoring entities and institutions as well as partners contributing to the organization of this major international event.

It is worth noting that “Crisis and Emergency Management Conference” (CEMC) has succeeded since it was launched in 2008, in attracting the attention regionally and internationally, by attracting numerous leading experts and strategists from different parts of the world, besides hosting leading Arabic and World figures.

It constitutes the first and only conference in the area of crisis and emergency management in the Gulf and Middle East, representing a platform to exchange the point of views of internationally renowned experts and researchers in the area; through a series of seminars and workshops hoping to come up with the most adequate solutions and procedures in cases of emergency and crisis as well as trying to minimize the possible casualties and ensure speedy recovery on every level.