United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is in Bahrain today to attend the launch of the UN Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction.

He will be attending the launch at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa alongside Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

Other guests expected include Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, GCC Secretary-General Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, Princess Haya bint Al Hussein and World Meteorological Organisation Secretary-General Michel Jarraud.

Last year, Bahrain contributed $1 million (BD378,000) in support of the report, co-ordinated by the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) Secretariat.

The report gives new evidence of where, why and how the risk of disasters is increasing globally, based on data gathered over the last 30 years.

It presents a 20-point plan to reduce risks and guide and inform national and international policies.

The global launch will be followed by regional and national launches of the findings and recommendations of the report to key ISDR partners around the world.

Bahrain is hosting the launch about one month before the second session of the ISDR Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction, due from June 16 to 19 in Geneva.

Meanwhile, Mr Ban will hold talks with Her Highness Shaikha Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty King Hamad and chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Women at the council this afternoon.

A speech by Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa will open the session.-TradeArabia News Service