The Director General of Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority Met with a High-Level Delegation from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Today, Tuesday, the Director General of Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority, Honorable Alhaj Mullah Nooruddin Turabi, met at his office with Ms. Shoko Noda, the Director of the Disaster Management Section at UNDP; Mr. Stephen Rodrigues, UNDP Resident Representative in Afghanistan; Mr. Najibullah Yousufi, Deputy Resident Representative for Climate Resilience and Mr. Abdul Hamid Omar, Deputy Resident Representative for Sustainable Livelihoods. The meeting focused on discussions related to disaster management.
At the outset, Honorable Turabi Sahb welcomed the UNDP delegation and emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation. The meeting featured comprehensive discussions on the current state of natural disasters, climate change, disaster prevention and rescue projects, as well as ongoing and future initiatives.
Alhaj Turabi Sahb highlighted the critical importance of preventive projects in averting risks and mitigating the impacts of disasters. He noted that, due to climate change, the level of natural hazards in the country has significantly increased. He stressed that implementing foundational preventive projects is of utmost importance, as they prevent major losses at relatively low cost.
He further added that the Authority’s engineering teams have surveyed, identified, and documented high-risk areas across Afghanistan and recorded them in a comprehensive database. He emphasized the need to implement preventive projects in these identified areas, adding that the design and cost estimation for many of these projects have already been completed.
Subsequently, Ms. Shoko Noda, the Director of UNDP’s Disaster Management Section, commended the Authority’s recent efforts and reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to continuing support for the people of Afghanistan in the areas of natural disaster risk reduction, preparedness, emergency response and reconstruction. Ms. Noda stressed the importance of expanding joint programs in climate change risk reduction, building standard preventive infrastructure, and enhancing local capacities.
Thereafter, Mr. Stephen Rodrigues, UNDP Resident Representative in Afghanistan, acknowledged the visible progress and rapid pace of work by Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority and expressed gratitude for its efficient performance. He stated that the project information list provided by the Authority would be utilized effectively and would guide the implementation of upcoming projects.
In conclusion, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued and strengthened coordination and cooperation, as well as to building greater capacity for more effective disaster management.

November 25th, 2025
Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority - ANDMA