The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani met on Monday, 11 March 2019, at his office in the GCC headquarters in Riyadh, the Director of the GCC Emergency Management Center, Ms. Wejdan Ali Al-Aqab.

The Secretary-General congratulated Ms. Wejdan Ali Al-Aqab on her appointment as a Director of the GCC-EMC, wishing her success in fulfilling the GCC-EMC responsibilities.

During the meeting they discussed the efforts exerted by the GCC-EMC to enhance coordination and cooperation among the GCC states in the field of emergency and crisis management, and with international organizations specialized in this vital field to ensure the highest level of efficiency in emergency and crisis management among the GCC States and in accordance with the international standards in this field. In this regard, the Secretary General stressed the need to develop an emergency response and crisis management plan, as well as prepare strategies to enhance the GCC joint emergency response and reduce its impact, and hold training programs to improve the technical skills of disaster relief workers.

Dr. al-Zayani also commended the GCC-EMC sincere efforts since its establishment, stressing the importance of intensifying the efforts to raise the level of emergency preparedness, and provide security and safety to the citizens and residents of the GCC States.