The Gulf Cooperation Council and DRR work in the MENA region
June 27, 2016
The Gulf Cooperation Council:
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a “political and economic alliance of six Middle Eastern countries—Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. The GCC was established in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in May 1981. The purpose of the GCC is to achieve unity among its members based on their common objectives and their similar political and cultural identities, which are rooted in Islamic beliefs. Presidency of the council rotates annually. Arguably the most important article of the GCC charter is Article 4, which states that the alliance was formed to strengthen relations among its member countries and to promote cooperation among the countries’ citizens. (…) Some of the most important achievements of the GCC include the creation of the Peninsula Shield Force, a joint military venture based in Saudi Arabia, and the signing of an intelligence-sharing pact in 2004. At a GCC summit in December 2009, an agreement was reached to launch a single regional currency similar to the euro.” (source: Encyclopedia Britannica)
Organisational contribution to disaster risk reduction:
As noted by UNISDR, “in early 2013, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) committed itself to take steps to develop a risk reduction road map. The Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf has called for strong regional commitment towards development of a disaster risk reduction strategy to strengthen the resilience of nations and individuals to natural hazards.”
Formal engagement with IFRC:
No current formalized agreement.