| James Kon |
IN ENSURING fast response to disasters, the ‘One Asean One Response’ Strategy adopted during the 20th Asean Summit in Laos this year will be put into action during the Asean Regional Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercise 2016 (ARDEX-16) which is currently taking place in Brunei Darussalam.
This was highlighted by Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong in his opening remark as guest of honour at the opening ceremony of ARDEX-16 at the International Convention Centre (ICC) yesterday.
The exercise “will explore ways to coordinate regional response to the possible impact of a super typhoon,” he said.
“This ARDEX is different from past exercises. With no planned field exercise, the focus will be on testing the Asean Standard Operating Procedure for Regional Standby Arrangements and coordination of Joint Disaster Relief and Emergency Response Operations. It will be conducted in a table top setting and will be a virtual coordination exercise.”
The minister pointed out that the virtual environment will allow many complex elements to be tested, particularly coordination of multinational rescue teams not only from Asean but also the rest of the world.
Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong delivers his speech. – AZROL AZMI
This year’s ARDEX, he explained, “will be the first of many exercises to come with emphasis on testing strategic elements within the Asean Standard Operating Procedure for both sending and receiving international disaster assistance, among others. The table top exercise is hoped to put to the test the role of the Asean Secretary-General as the Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator as well as coordination between Asean sectoral bodies.”
Earlier in his speech, the minister noted that Asia is the most disaster-affected region in the world.
“In 2004, a tsunami hit the Indian Ocean devastating several countries in the region. In 2008, great devastation was caused by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar while in the same year, the Sichuan earthquake took 69,000 lives. In 2011, floods in Thailand caused over US$45 billion of damages, earthquake in Japan and New Zealand took more than 1,000 lives while Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines recorded more than 6,000 fatalities in 2013. Last Month in October, Super Tyhoon Haima with a similar strength like Super Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines and most recently, New Zealand was hit by a 7.8 earthquake.”
The Asean region, he said, “accounted for over 30 per cent of all global fatalities from disasters. Asean remains steadfast in its effort to ensure fast response and immediate resource mobilisation so that relief assistance reaches the affected population in time.”
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