An-Najah National University, represented by Director of Earth Sciences and Seismic Studies, Dr. Jalal Dabeek, participated in the International Forum for Reducing Disastrous Risks held in Geneva from 16-20/6/2009.  The forum was attended by official representatives of several countries' Presidents, ministers, governmental and NGOs from all over the world.
The forum’s aim was to discuss the advances achieved world-wide in the arena of Hugo Framework List and priorities for reducing disastrous risks, which was ratified by the International Conference held in Kobe, Japan in 2005.  During that meeting a framework was laid down for nations' abilities to face disasters.  Palestine was represented by Lieutenant Colonel Attah Abu Rubb, as a representative of the Palestinian Civil Defense, Captain Adli Imran in addition to a representative to the Palestinian Mission in UN in Geneva.
The forum sessions included discussions on many issues, including filing reports on each country's abilities to face potential disasters, discussions of mechanisms and methods that guarantee moving from  to action, with commitment to work priorities such as: considering reducing disastrous risks as a local and national priority based on a solid institutional basis, defining Disasters risks, their evaluation and detection, enhancing early alarming, making use of the inventions and education to build a safety culture ability to face disasters effectively and creating awareness on this subject.

Dr. Dabeek, in his remarks, went through all the activities of the Earth Sciences and Seismic Studies Center at An-Najah, including its work with a number of governmental and non-governmental institutions in the arena of studies through creating awareness, guidance, seminars on the subject of seismic designing, crisis management and emergency. In addition to the focus on the achievements of the Palestinian Civil Defense in the arena of enhancing abilities to respond to emergencies, as well as the role of the Union of Engineers in Palestine in seismic designing and executing of building.

The attendants were introduced to a course taught at the Faculty of Engineering at An-Najah National University which aims at reducing of earthquakes. This is an elective university’s course. The participants praised the experience of teaching such courses at An-Najah.