Two years ago during May 2017, the ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT) Advisory Group Meeting agreed on the concept of an ASEAN-ERAT In-Country Network. The main objectives of the ASEAN-ERAT In-Country Network include:

1. Maintaining communication among ASEAN-ERAT members in their respective countries, as well as enhancing coordination among ASEAN-ERAT members, National Disaster Management Organisations (NDMOs), and the AHA Centre

2. Facilitating information and knowledge sharing, as well as promoting dialogue for improving the ASEAN-ERAT system

3. Leveraging the adopted ASEAN-ERAT system to be recognised by the national stakeholders

4. Further enhancing rapid deployment of ASEAN-ERAT members in times of emergencies

Following 2018’s establishment of the ASEAN-ERAT In-Country Network in Myanmar and Philippines, the AHA Centre facilitated the establishment of the 3rd network in Vientiane, Lao PDR, during early 2019. Thus, adding another milestone towards reaching the goal of setting-up similar networks in 6 ASEAN Member States by the end of 2019, as part of the ASEAN-ERAT Transformation Plan. This historic milestone for ASEAN-ERAT took place back-to-back with a ‘Familiarisation of ASEAN Disaster Management’ workshop, which was held on the 12-13 February 2019. The objective of the workshop was to provide an overview of disaster management mechanisms in ASEAN to ministries and other stakeholders, as well as to provide insight into areas of cooperation to enhance disaster management in Lao PDR and the ASEAN region.

The workshop was organised by the Social Welfare Department, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare of Lao PDR, supported by the AHA Centre, and attended by participants from relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Science and Technology, and Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism. A number of partners were also present during the meeting, such as Lao Red Cross, Bank of Lao PDR, and ASEAN-ERAT members who are based in Lao PDR.

Written by : Melya Wardhani | Photo : AHA Centre

Putrajaya, Malaysia was the venue for the 9th Meeting of the Governing Board of the AHA Centre, held during the first week of October, 2018. Alongside representatives from the ten ASEAN Member States, the meeting was also attended by representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat and the AHA Centre. The meeting was chaired by Dato’ Mohtar Bin Mohd. Abd. Rahman, the Director-General of the National Disaster Management Agency of Malaysia (NADMA), who expressed his condolences and support to the communities affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.

During the meeting, the AHA Centre provided an update on its implementation of the AHA Centre Work Plan 2020 – having recently concluded the workplan’s mid-term review. This provided an opportunity to present the Governing Board with a number of key outcomes achieved by the AHA Centre in recent times, alongside progress updates on some new and innovative activities to increase the capacity and quality of disaster management in the ASEAN region. The presentation also highlights the implementation of the AHA Centre Executive Programme Phase II, the transformation plan for the ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT), and the AHA Centre’s numerous emergency responses throughout 2018.

A key outcome achieved during these series of meetings was the increase of annual contributions to the AHA Centre Fund, which from 2019 will increase from USD 50,000 to USD 90,000 from each of the 10 Member States. This decision forms a key step to realising the sustainability of the AHA Centre into the future, and ultimately a stronger and more united ASEAN in the face of natural disaster. The 9th Governing Board meeting was held concurrently with a number of other key strategic events, including the 33rd Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM), the 10th Meeting of the Joint Task Force to Promote Synergy with Other Relevant ASEAN Bodies on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), the 6th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management (AMMDM), and the 7th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response.

Written by : Dipo Summa, William Shea | Photo : AHA Centre