Disaster Risk Management

In 2020, during the socioeconomic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hariri Foundation partnered with the national Disaster Risk Management (DRM) unit, the Union of Municipalities of Saida-Zahrani, and the Lebanese Red Cross to establish a local crisis and disaster risk management unit. The unit’s aim was to consolidate the efforts of all 16 Saida-Zahrani municipalities in managing crisis and disaster risks and to align them with national DRM plans.

The Hariri Foundation collaborated with national and local partners to equip and support the unit and its operations room, linking local pre-established sectoral networks with local authorities to enhance preparedness for disasters and adopting scientific indicators in disaster risk reduction and disaster risk management.

To this day, Hariri Foundation supports the unit through data management and geographic information system services, informing the unit’s strategic decisions for preparedness and multi-agency response. The foundation works with the unit to promote partnerships and tools for data-driven decision-making as well as community-based disaster risk management through outreach and joint planning with the local community.