Minister of Interior Oğuz attends 10th ECO Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction

The delegation led by TRNC Minister of Interior Dursun Oğuz attended the 10th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan on 21–22 January.

In his address, Minister Oğuz emphasized that disasters constitute a global challenge affecting not only individual countries but also regional stability and the shared future of humanity. He further underscored that factors such as climate change, rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, and population growth have increased the complexity and impact of disaster risks, underlining the necessity of preventive and comprehensive approaches rather than reactive responses.

Minister Oğuz drew attention to the vulnerability of the ECO region to a wide range of natural hazards, including earthquakes, floods, droughts, landslides, and forest fires, and stressed the importance of strengthening  regional cooperation in areas such as information sharing, capacity building, early warning systems, and solidarity among member states.

Reaffirming the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ commitment to the ECO Vision 2025 and relevant international frameworks, including the United Nations Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Minister Oğuz expressed the TRNC’s readiness to share its experience and expertise with ECO member countries and to contribute to the development of joint regional initiatives.

The meeting, hosted by Pakistan, concluded with the adoption of the Islamabad Declaration and was attended by ministers and senior representatives from ECO member states.

Minister Oğuz was accompanied Hakan Balaban, Head of the Civil Defence Organization, Mehmet Ercilasun, Director of the Ministry of Interior, Buket Kop, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Representative to Islamabad and Yaşar Yılancılar,Third Secretary.