Mogadishu, Somalia — The Commissioner of the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), Mr. Maxamuud Macalin Cabdulle, today inaugurated the First Session of the National Conference on Anticipatory Action for Disaster Prevention in Mogadishu.

The three-day conference aims to advance community-led approaches to anticipatory action—an essential component in building resilient communities capable of withstanding the country’s recurrent disasters.

The event brought together senior government officials and representatives from leading international organizations, including WFP, IFRC, START Network, FAO, DRC, KOICA, as well as local humanitarian partners who play a pivotal role in strengthening Somalia’s disaster-prevention and early action systems.

Speaking at the opening session, Mr. Khadar Sh. Mohamed, Director of the Disaster Risk Management Department at SoDMA, described the conference as a valuable platform for developing a unified national plan to reduce disaster risks and enhance coordinated efforts among government institutions and international partners.

In his keynote address, SoDMA Commissioner Mr. Maxamuud Macalin Cabdulle highlighted the importance of the forum in contributing to the development of disaster-resilient communities. He stressed the need for broad collaboration between government agencies and global partners to ensure effective and timely disaster preparedness.

The Commissioner urged all participants to engage actively throughout the three-day conference and to present practical, actionable recommendations that will guide the creation of a comprehensive national plan harmonizing disaster-prevention efforts across Somalia.