Beirut, 7 October 2025--Policymakers, scientists, international experts and representatives from diverse governmental sectors and ministries are convening at the United Nations House in Beirut for the Forum on Fostering Interregional Collaboration on Sand and Dust Storms (SDS), organized by the UN Economic and Social Commissions for Western Asia (ESCWA) and for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), with the support of the Government of Sweden.
The opening session featured statements by ESCWA and ESCAP Executive Secretaries and Co-Chairs of the United Nations Coalition on Combating SDS, Rola Dashti and Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana; in addition to Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations Lukman Abdulraheem Al Faily who also chairs the Group of 77 and China; Special Envoy for Climate Change and Sustainability at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Qatar Bader Al Dafa, as well as Head of the Regional Development Programme at the Embassy of Sweden in Jordan Anna Rosendhal, who joined online, and Ambassador of Brazil to Lebanon Tarcísio Costa.
In her remarks, Dashti emphasized the urgency of collective action. "No nation, no matter how advanced or prepared, can face these storms alone. Sand and dust storms do not respect borders. They are transboundary threats that demand transboundary solutions," she said. "The Forum could not be more urgent, nor our purpose more vital. What was once viewed as a seasonal or localized phenomenon has evolved into a global crisis," she added.
Western Asia is one of the most affected regions globally by SDS, which are also becoming more frequent and severe across Central and South Asia, the Far East and the Sahel. Their impacts go far beyond temporary haze and poor visibility. By carrying fine particles and pathogens across borders, they create serious public health crises, aggravate respiratory illnesses, disrupt transport networks, damage agriculture and food security, and even accelerate glacial melting. The economic costs are enormous, hitting vulnerable communities hardest and undermining sustainable development efforts.
Against this backdrop, the Forum seeks to advance cooperative responses that bridge regions and sectors. Over two days, participants will discuss ways to strengthen science and early warning systems, mobilize finance and technology, integrate SDS risks into climate and health strategies, and scale up partnerships that extend from Governments to civil society and the private sector.
"The challenge is complex, but the path is clear. By working across sectors and across regions, we can allocate resources more effectively, strengthen resilience, and deliver solutions that bring tangible results to our people and ecosystems," Alisjahbana underscored in a video message. "Together we can protect lives and livelihoods, strengthen resilience, and build sustainable and adaptive communities across our region," she concluded.
The gathering comes at a critical moment as countries embark on the United Nations Decade on Combating Sand and Dust Storms (2025-2034). It builds on earlier interregional dialogues hosted in Doha and Abu Dhabi earlier this year, which laid the groundwork for a shared knowledge base and collaborative initiatives. The Forum will come up with recommendations to guide joint action throughout the Decade, with a focus on scaling up innovation, capacity building, and shared responsibility.
The Coalition brings together 20 UN and international agencies across diverse mandates to promote integrated policy responses, joint programming, and collaborative actions to address SDS through advancing adaptation, early warning, health, governance, and regional cooperation.
