Geneva, July 3, 2026 (SUNA) —Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Mohi-Eddin Salem, met on Friday with the Secretary-General of the International Civil Defence Organization (ICDO), Colonel Arguj Kalantarli, as part of a series of meetings with heads of international organizations in Geneva. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between Sudan and the organization, particularly in supporting the Government’s preparedness for the upcoming rainy season and enhancing its capacity to respond to the risks of floods and flash floods. The Foreign Minister briefed the Secretary-General on the measures being undertaken by the Sudanese Government to strengthen emergency preparedness and response during the rainy season, particularly in light of the return of large numbers of citizens to their areas of origin. He stressed the urgent need to support civil defence institutions through the provision of rescue and firefighting equipment, water pumps, generators, emergency shelter materials, and supplies for vector control. In this context, the Minister expressed Sudan’s aspiration for the organization’s support in mobilizing resources and providing both technical and material assistance to reinforce national response efforts. For his part, the Secretary-General affirmed that supporting Sudan is a top priority for the organization. He highlighted ongoing efforts to mobilize assistance from member states and partners, including arrangements to provide civil defence and firefighting equipment, as well as support for training and capacity-building programmes. The meeting also explored other areas of cooperation, including the exchange of expertise, the development of early warning capabilities, and strengthened coordination between the organization and Sudan’s relevant national authorities to enhance disaster and emergency response and reinforce the country’s civil defence capacity.BH/BH