Rabat, 25/01/2023 (MAP) – Morocco has called for the creation of a platform of African experts in natural disaster management before the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) of the African Union, which is holding its preparatory meeting for the upcoming AU Summit in Addis Ababa.

The Ambassador Permanent Representative of Morocco to the AU and UNECA, Mohamed Arrouchi, who spoke during the review of the Activity Report of the African Risk Management Agency, stressed the need to create this platform to coordinate and define a common African strategy to face the challenges of natural disasters, including those related to climate change.

Recalling the current context and environmental challenges facing the continent, particularly climate change, Arrouchi described the mandate of the African Risk Management Agency as important and strategic in assisting AU Member States to improve their capacity to plan, prepare and respond to the effects of extreme weather events, with a view to improving food security and protecting the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable populations.

Member States should support the Agency in fulfilling its mandate, but also in achieving its well-defined strategic objectives, namely innovation, research and development, and strengthening disaster risk management, the Moroccan diplomat stressed.

The African Union’s Committee of Permanent Representatives began the work of its 45th Ordinary Session last week in Addis Ababa, in preparation for the next AU Summit scheduled for February next year.