From June 25-27, twelve National Societies met in Sofia for the 16th Balkan Conference of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to exchange experiences and strengthen regional collaboration. Among the primary topics addressed was the promotion of the IDRL Guidelines.
Due to climate change and an increasing occurrence of cross-border disasters, participants underlined the need for stronger cooperation with state authorities on disaster management. “Better work with the governments on the IDRL will help us avoid delays in transferring emergency goods to disaster sites in the neighbouring countries,” noted Montenegro Red Cross Society Disaster Management Coordinator Momcilo Martinovic.
In their final conference statement, the participants agreed “to commit themselves to advocate to the National authorities to review the existing Disaster Management legislation and to continuously promote the IDRL Guidelines” and to foster dialogue with authorities “at all levels” on disaster risk reduction and effective responses to newly emerging vulnerabilities.