UN and Red Cross sign climate pact in Dubai

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have signed an agreement to work together in response to climate shocks in the MENA region.

The two organisations will work on mobilising resources and collaborate on acting early ahead of climate-related disasters.

The signing took place at the Road to COP27: Anticipatory Action Milestones and Way Forward in MENA event, hosted by Dubai's International Humanitarian City (IHC).

The event emphasised the ongoing importance of anticipatory action ahead of climate-related disasters. Anticipatory action is an effective way of mitigating the worst consequences of predictable climate risks, which are expected to become more frequent and intense because of climate change and conflict in the MENA region.  

“In a region where climate hazards such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves are increasing humanitarian needs, anticipatory action aims to reduce or mitigate the impact of these hazards on the most vulnerable people,” said Mageed Yahia, WFP Representative to the GCC. 

Over the last few years, WFP and IFRC have been making progress in setting the scene for an anticipatory action (AA) approach in the MENA region for acting earlier ahead of disasters.

IFRC MENA Deputy Regional Director, Rania Ahmad said, “This collaboration between IFRC and WFP will allow for increased sharing of experiences and financing and make the most vulnerable populations better prepared and enhance their resilience.”

The event was attended by high-level speakers and representatives from the UAE government, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, WFP, IFRC, Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre and national societies, regional and international humanitarian organisations.

The @WFP & @IFRC signed a regional MOU to support joint advocacy, capacity development, and resource mobilization for the coordinated national-level implementation of anticipatory action in response to climate shocks in the MENA.
Read more: https://t.co/K8ZQvuVUvx@RaniaAhmedSh

— IFRC Middle East and North Africa (@IFRC_MENA) August 10, 2022