International Conference on the Hopefor Initiative Resumes activities

Doha, November 28 (QNA) - The International Conference on the Hopefor initiative resumed its activities here on Monday for the second consecutive day to discuss how best to improve effectiveness and coordinating military and civil defence assets in relief operations with a widescale international participation. The participants held a seminar earlier Monday on setting up a global network of civilian and military practitioners from both assisting and affected states'' alike within the context of the Hopefor initiative. the panel discussion will engage all participants to discuss and share their experiences and expectations in this concern. Qatar, in collaboration with the Dominican Republic and Turkey will share the outcome of the conference with the United Nations General Assembly with an aim to strengthen the international response to natural disasters. "Natural disasters are predicted to occur more frequently and with increased intensity. This raises the question of how local and international capacities for preparedness and response to natural disasters can be strengthened," said H E Mohammed bin Abdullah Rumaihi, Assistant Foreign Minister for Follow up Affairs, delivering the keynote address here earlier Sunday. HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, announced the HopeFor initiative by Qatar in New York in June 2010. It was launched to enhance the effectiveness and co-ordination of military and civil defence machinery while dealing with natural disasters. HopeFor functions with several stakeholders and in collaboration with United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs The three- day conference will discuss the concept of the HopeFor initiative and consider the options presented in the initiative and the steps needed to implement them in cooperation with member states and the regional and international organisations and emergency relief coordinator . Supported by Turkey and the Dominican Republic, Qatar hosts many high profile leaders and experts. More than 130 participants from over 60 countries and organisations participate at the conference at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Doha. "Hope our recommendations will be really useful to respond to disaster management," said Edwin Oliveres, Operative Director, Centre for Emergency Response of the Dominican Republic. The first day of the conference held expert level sessions with number of presentations showing the overall problems, challenges and lessons identified in a humanitarian crisis and the rapid response and relief showing examples of efforts made at international, regional and national levels. Also training and doctrine, operational capacity and preparedness were discussed in parallel sessions. For her part, Ms. Annika Hideng Norberg from the International Forum for the Challenges of Peace Operations has presented an introduction about the said forum and its establishment since the middle of the 90s of last century and congratulated the State of Qatar , Turkey and the Dominican Republic and Turkey for the HopeFor initiative and called for serious debates so that the initiative would realize its targets for speedy responce to natural disasters across the world via a network of civilian and military practitioners from both the assisting and affected states. Ms. Annika Hideng Norberg made clear that the aforesaid International Forum for the Challenges of Peace Operations is not a humanitarian organisation concerned with responce to natural disasters but it is aimed at improving the peacekeeping operations and those working in this field. Elaborating she said that the forum comprises civilian and military practitioners , countries and government and non-government organisations and is closely working with all the regional and international organisations.(END).