JAIF SUPPORT
FOR ASEAN DISASTER MANAGEMENT
In partnership with the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM), consistent support from the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) on disaster management in ASEAN has been reflected through flagship programmes implemented by the AHA Centre. Since the AHA Centre’s establishment in 2011, based on a shared interest in disaster management, the Government of Japan through JAIF has remained one of the biggest supporters of the regional coordinating agency on disaster management and emergency response, and by extension the ASEAN region that it serves.
Officially established in early 2006, JAIF is a specific funding mechanism developed by the Government of Japan to support the continuous development of the ASEAN Community. Since its establishment JAIF has strengthened the relationship between Japan and the ASEAN region across a range of areas, contributing over USD 650 million to development efforts. Guided by the ASEAN Vision 2025: Forging Ahead Together blueprint, JAIF has funded and supported multiple projects related to disaster management, counter-terrorism, economic integration, youth exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The Government of Japan, through JAIF, was one of the first partners to support the implementation of the region’s vision to establish the AHA Centre. JAIF’s partnership with the AHA Centre is particularly important as it has continued to support a number of multi-year programmes that have significant impact on disaster management capacity development and coordination systems in the region. Since its establishment in November 2011, the AHA Centre has benefitted from over USD 40 million for a range of projects. This sees the Government of Japan – through JAIF – form the largest contributor to the AHA Centre’s programmes overall. Due to such success in the implementation of the range of projects and programmes, the trust and the deepening of knowledge exchange between the Government of Japan and the AHA Centre has been key to launching ASEAN towards its future goal as a global leader in disaster management.
In 2019, the ASEAN launched satellite warehouses in the Philippines and Thailand with support from JAIF through the Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN (DELSA) Phase II Project. The two satellite warehouses, in addition to the DELSA Regional Stockpile located in Malaysia, are being utilised for all disaster response efforts – including the current pandemic – across the ASEAN region. The current total funding for the DELSA Phase II Project from JAIF is USD 7.2 million, and is an extension of the original JAIF-funded DELSA programmes implemented previously.
In 2018, JAIF continued its support of the ACE Programme (2018-2021) as a standalone project after the successful implementation of the original four batches, initially funded under the first phase of the DELSA Project (2012-2017). By the end of 2021, the ACE Programme will have produced 122 graduates who are ready to tackle the challenges of increasing disaster and climate risks in the region, and to assist ASEAN in maximising regional disaster response coordination mechanisms.
The ICT Phase IV Project, the ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT) Transformation Project, and Enhancing the Readiness of Myanmar Government Local Capacity in Providing Humanitarian Assistance to Support the Repatriation Process, are other examples of the AHA Centre’s efforts supported by JAIF. Alongside these, JAIF also supports projects such as the Disaster Risk Reduction by Integrating Climate Change Projection into Flood and Landslide Risk Assessment, and Development of the AADMER Work Programme 2021-2025, which are currently being implemented across the ASEAN region.
Written by : Gaynor Tanyang, Ina Rachmawati and JAIF Management Team | Photo : AHA Centre
DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE
Coordinating regional efforts on disaster management is the primary function of the AHA Centre, which requires strong processes and approaches to ensure successful coordination across a range of levels and with numerous parties. One of the key approaches for undertaking disaster management work – whether for the AHA Centre or all other disaster actors – is through utilisation of the Disaster Management Cycle, and its expansion and uptake across the ASEAN region.
The Disaster Management Cycle (DMC) itself sometimes varies in specifics, but generally follows the same key phases in a circular motion. It is important to recognise that this is not a ‘linear’ approach, but instead a cycle, with many elements of its final phases ‘feeding back’ into the early phases of the DMC.
PREVENTION
Prevention aims to directly avoid the onset of disaster and therefore its adverse impacts. It focuses on actions taken to avoid disaster situations, including examples such as land regulations to stop degradation, or development of river levees to prevent floods. The outright avoidance of adverse impacts of hazards and related disasters.
MITIGATION
Mitigation aims to limit or lessen the impact of potential disasters, usually when initial prevention methods have not been undertaken or were not successful. An example is the construction of earthquake resistant buildings, as there is little to be done about preventing earthquakes, however such construction can mitigate the impact.
PREPAREDNESS
Preparedness covers the knowledge and skills held by all actors to effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from the impacts of disaster. This may include government processes to respond directly, community understanding of how to keep safe when disaster strikes, or organisations planning what are priorities for people during the aftermath of a disaster event.
RESPONSE
Response is formed by the direct emergency assistance after a disaster strikes, and is usually focused on the speedy saving of lives, and ensuring basic needs of affected communities are provided. There are many types of activities and focus areas in disaster response, including (but not limited to) assessments, food and non-food item provision, water access, sanitation and hygiene service delivery, and other key health and shelter activities.
REHABILITATION
Rehabilitation takes place in the early stages after the initial disaster response, with the aim to establish key services required for a functioning community in the short-term. It may include the development of camps for those who have lost their homes, or ensuring education can continue for children around the disaster site.
RECONSTRUCTION
This phase aims to re-develop the infrastructure and services required for long-term recovery, after the initial rehabilitation has taken place. It includes permanent housing development, full restoration of services, and other requirements to return a community to its pre-disaster state.
RECOVERY
Not only does the recovery phase include ongoing restoration of pre-disaster situation, but also involves improving and increasing infrastructure and services for affected communities. A significant part of this phase – and one that ‘closes the DMC loop’ – is the integration of prevention, mitigation and preparedness activities to ensure a more resilient and safe community in the face of future disasters.
Written by : William Shea
MONTHLY DISASTER REVIEW AND OUTLOOK
MAY 2020 | DISASTER MONITORING & ANALYSIS
(DMA) UNIT, AHA CENTRE
GENERAL REVIEW OF MAY 2020
A total of 51 disaster events were recorded for the month of May 2020, which was an increase of 82.14% from April 2020. This also formed a three-fold increase in disaster occurrences compared to the previous five-year average, with the highest amount of recorded events for May 2020 being flooding events (56.86%). This significant increase in the number of disaster occurrences in the region was also reflected by an increase in the number of persons affected and displaced persons (both almost 2 times higher), as well as damaged houses (over 90,000 more reports). The observed increase in the impact of disaster events is largely attributed to Tropical Cyclone (TC) VONGFONG that affected the Philippines, causing a majority of the significant increase to damaged houses. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), TC VONGFONG brought more than 300 millimeters of cumulative rainfall to areas in its track, with an overall strength equivalent to Category 3 in the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Notably, casualties and number of missing people were low – with six deaths and one missing person. The number of injuries, however, significantly increased compared to the average, with a majority of such injuries due to TC VONGFONG.
Geophysically, a total of 13 significant earthquakes (M≥5.0) were reported in the region for May 2020. Volcanic activity was observed for Ibu and Sangeang Api Volcanoes in Indonesia during Week 19, as well as Dukono and Semeru Volcanoes during the last two weeks of the month. Despite increased volcanic activity, these volcanoes remained on Alert Level II, while three volcanoes (Agung, Karangetang, and Sinabung) remain on Alert Level III.
The figures are an indication of the improvement in the capacities of ASEAN Member States to monitor and report disaster events, with such improvements potentially influencing the increase in reported occurrences. There is also an indication of the effect of climate change in the region, which according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) is linked to more frequent and severe extreme weather events – floods and tropical cyclones. The outcomes also highlight the importance of early warning information and systems, as disaster impacts may have been significantly greater if not for the pre-emptive evacuation, information dissemination, and advisory issuance undertaken during TC VONGFONG in the Philippines.
SEASONAL OUTLOOK
According to the seasonal forecast of the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) for June-July-August 2020, Southwest Monsoon conditions prevailed over the ASEAN region since the latter part of May. This is characterised by increased rain shower activities in the northern ASEAN region due to the Southwest monsoon rain band (elongated cloud patterns that bring rain). Typically drier conditions (compared to the rest of the year) can also be expected for the southern ASEAN region during the Southwest Monsoon season.
For June 2020, increased shower activities over the Mekong sub-region and subdued hotspot activities are expected. For the southern ASEAN region however, in contrast with drier Southwest Monsoon conditions, the equatorial regions should expect above-normal precipitation with isolated and generally subdued hotspot activities.
For June to August 2020, the ASMC forecasts an increased chance of above-average rainfall for most parts of the region near or on the equator. On average, above-average temperatures are also expected to persist over the ASEAN region during the next three months. In this particular season, the southern ASEAN region traditionally expects a dry season, and with it a gradual increase in hotspot activities, particularly in fire-prone areas such as Sumatra and Kalimantan, Indonesia. Extended periods of this dry weather may lead to escalation of hotspot activities, and lead to transboundary haze pollution in the region.
Data Sources: ASEAN Disaster Information Network, ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre
Written by : Keith Landicho and Lawrence Anthony Dimailig
DISCLAIMER
Disclaimer: AHA Centre’s estimation is based on data and information shared by National Disaster Management Organisations (NDMOs) and other relevant agencies from ASEAN Member States, international organisations and news agencies. Further information on each recorded-significant disaster, description and detail of data and information are available at: http://adinet.ahacentre.org/reports.
MOBILISING DELSA RELIEF ITEMS
FOR COVID-19 RESPONSE
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge ASEAN Member States, and the disaster management sector re-positions itself to determine where it can support ASEAN communities through the region’s current response and support mechanisms. The Governing Board of the AHA Centre held an online Special Meeting on May 15th, 2020, working through a range of options and ideas with AHA Centre management for a regional response and support to the pandemic situation.
The decision of the Special Meeting provides a number of specific Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN (DELSA) relief support items that can be accessed by ASEAN Member States (AMS) during the pandemic, to be requested by National Disaster Management Organisations (NDMOs) as an interim measure to fill operational gaps in their responses. The relief items made available as a result of this decision are Mobile Storage Units (MSU), Hygiene Kits and Prefabricated Offices (with AC) – that are kept in the DELSA stockpile and ready for deployment. Since this announcement, the support has been utilised by NDMOs from the Philippines, Malaysia and Cambodia.
Meanwhile, the AHA Centre – in collaboration with the Office of Civil Defence of the Philippines – has been providing support to the ongoing operations responding to the impact of COVID-19 in the Philippines. Efforts were undertaken from March until May, with teams working out of the new DELSA satellite warehouse at Camp General Aguinaldo, Quezon City. As part of the partnership, the AHA Centre has provided the warehouse space, as well as equipment such as forklifts to support the overall logistical operations. The AHA Centre also provided support with the delivery of a Mobile Storage Unit, that was procured with support from another AHA Centre partner – Direct Relief. The Mobile Storage Unit is currently located at the Supply Unit – Logistics Command, at Camp General Aguinaldo, and is being utilised by the Philippine’s Department of Health to store personal protective equipment and medical supplies.
The AHA Centre has also released 5,000 personal hygiene kits to the Philippines, procured with the support from Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF). One thousand of these hygiene kits have been mobilised to Legazpi City in Alabay, and 4,000 hygiene kits to Tacloban City in Leyte, to be distributed to different local government quarantine sites to support their COVID-19 response. On May 29 2020, the AHA Centre worked to support Malaysia’s NDMO (NADMA – Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara), providing one Mobile Storage Unit and one pre-fabricated office to support ongoing response work. The items were mobilised from the DELSA regional stockpile in Subang, Malaysia, and have been sent to Selangor, Malaysia, to support the coordination and management operations of a field hospital in the region. These relief items were also provided through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF). As of early June, 2,900 Hygiene Kits and another Mobile Storage Unit were also set to be released from a DELSA satellite warehouse to support the pandemic response in Cambodia.
Written by : Ina Rachmawati | Photo Credit : AHA Centre