More than 20 G20 international countries gathered at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre for a G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group meeting where they discussed disaster risk solutions while reinforcing the need for a united global response to shared challenges.

STRENGTHENING disaster preparedness and resilience through solidarity and global cooperation was the cornerstone of the four-day G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group meeting held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre. Representatives from more than 20 G20 international countries comprising of policy makers, government, experts, and civil society participated in the engagement to seek solutions to several challenges. The engagements delved into tactics to collectively mitigate the severity of natural disasters as well as best practices to strengthen disaster resilience with the focus on prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.

The G20 meeting allowed countries to learn from each other regarding mechanisms and strategies to collectively integrate disaster risk reduction measures. EThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba said the engagements will help the City to gain knowledge and expertise from other G20 countries that will assist eThekwini Municipality to implement disaster resilience strategies. While eThekwini has been extensively affected by disasters in recent years, significance strides have been made in implementing disaster recovery measures. A number of programmes and projects have been initiated as part of disaster risk reduction to ensure they are environmentally sound, socially acceptable, and economically viable. Mayor Xaba said these initiatives are an indication that the City is compliant with the ‘Build Back Better’ approach which the City has adopted to build systems and infrastructure that are more robust and less vulnerable to future disasters. 

Sarah Houghton, a delegate from Geneva, Switzerland expressed her gratitude that this important engagement was held in eThekwini, a region that has witnessed several flood disasters. “This is very significant as this provides an opportunity to learn on how eThekwini has been coping with such challenges and the strategies the City is implementing to