Visit of EU Ambassador to Lebanon’s Disaster Risk Management Unit
An EU delegation headed by the Ambassador of the European Union to Lebanon, Ms. Sandra De Waele, visited the National Operations Room at the Grand Serail, where the Disaster Risk Management Unit is coordinating the Government’s emergency response.
The visit was organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and brought together H.E. Haneen Al-Sayyed, Minister of Social Affairs; H.E. Ahmad Hajjar, Minister of Interior and Municipalities; H.E. Fayez Rasamny, Minister of Public Works and Transport; and UNDP Resident Representative Blerta Aliko, alongside representatives from the DRM Unit, the Lebanese Armed Forces, the Lebanese Red Cross, the European Union, and UNDP.
As the conflict has forced many people to flee their homes, the European Union, through UNDP, continues to support the Disaster Risk Management Unit, building on years of engagement to help Lebanon prepare for, prevent and respond to crises. Today, this includes helping the unit keep running as it coordinates with ministries, local authorities and partners to support displaced families, manage shelters and deliver aid. The EU also supports the Lebanese Red Cross, including the maps and tools it uses to dispatch ambulances and carry out search and rescue operations on the ground.
The delegation toured the National Operations Room and was briefed on how the Disaster Risk Management Unit coordinates the government-led emergency response. The visit concluded with a roundtable discussion with government representatives and partners, highlighting the main challenges, gaps, and priority needs, as well as ongoing efforts to support those affected by the crisis.
Operating under the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Unit serves as Lebanon’s central coordination and information hub for disaster risk management and emergency response. Established in 2010 with technical support from UNDP and funding from international partners, including the European Union, the Unit brings together government institutions, local authorities, and partners to better prepare for, coordinate and respond to crises across the country.
