UAE calls for collective regional action to address sand and dust storms

Abu Dhabi, Feb 27, 2013 (WAM) - The UAE Minister of Environment and Water, Dr Rashid Ahmad bin Fahad, termed dust and sand storms as a ''collective regional responsibility'' and all stakeholders should come together to address this environmental challenge. The UAE minister was speaking at the UNEP's flagship Sand and Dust Storms project, a regional initiative targeting Bahrain, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan and Syria, was the top issue discussed during a ministerial meeting at UNEP's First Universal Session of the Governing Council, held in Nairobi, Kenya. During the meeting, the UAE Minister of Environment and Water, Dr Rashid Ahmad bin Fahad, invited the parties to the project to agree on the steps that should be taken in the near future. Participants debated the objectives of the project, which was established by UNEP to reduce the impact of Sand and Dust Storms in the region, which have escalated at a blistering pace, paralysing daily life and businesses and leading to significant health problems. The project aims at enhancing joint efforts in the region to combat Sand and Dust Storms by establishing a network of experts and scientists to define the mechanisms of implementation of the project and limit the human, social and economic impacts. The meeting was attended by UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, Mr. Achim Steiner, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, Mr. Martin Kobler, along with ministers and representatives from UAE, Iraq, Iran, Jordan and Turkey. Directors from UNEP divisions and regional offices in West Asia, Europe, as well as Asia and Pacific also attended the meeting. "This is a pioneer project and a great initiative for the region," said Mr. Achim Steiner. "UNEP is leading similar projects in other regions of the world and will provide the relevant technical support, including reliable scientific information and expertise," he added. Sand and Dust Storms are transcontinental phenomena that require regional cooperation to combat them. They are the result of frequent droughts and land degradation associated with conflict, unsustainable agricultural practices and poor water resources management. - Emirates News Agency, WAM