ROAD TO ARDEX-23:
FINAL EXERCISE PLANNING TEAM (EPT) MEETING AND REFEREE TRAINING FOR THE ASEAN REGIONAL DISASTER EMERGENCY RESPONSE SIMULATION EXERCISE 2023
The Final Exercise Planning Team (EPT) Meeting and Referee Training for the ASEAN Regional Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercise 2023 (ARDEX-23) recently took place from 8 to 11 May 2023 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Hosted by the National Disaster Management Authority of Indonesia (BNPB) and the AHA Centre, as co-organisers, the Final EPT Meeting served as a continuation of the First EPT Meeting held in February 2023. During this gathering, the ASEAN Member States, BNPB Indonesia, AHA Centre, ASEAN Secretariat, and other stakeholders convened to solidify the Master Scenario Events List (MSEL), determine the level of participation from ASEAN Member States, establish the exercise control team structure, and make necessary logistics arrangements. These crucial elements are vital to ensuring the success of ARDEX-23, as they lay the foundation for effective coordination and response during the exercise. Held on 8-9 May 2023, the Meeting was officially opened by Deputy Minister of Logistics and Equipment of BNPB Indonesia Dr. Lilik Kurniawan, ST., M.Si.
Following the EPT Meeting, on 10-11 May a Referee Training session was conducted to define the roles and responsibilities of referees, and to standardise the evaluation process, and equip Referees with the necessary tools and provided with guidance to fulfil their tasks effectively, guaranteeing a seamless exercise. The Referees will play a crucial role during ARDEX-23, closely observing the exercise at both the Strategic and Operational Levels in order to gain insights that will serve as valuable references and planning parameters for future ARDEX exercises.
With the goal of testing and evaluating ASEAN’s emergency response and disaster management mechanisms, ARDEX is a full-scale simulation exercise that aims to enhance regional coordination and strengthen disaster resilience. The event, scheduled to be held from 31 July to 4 August 2023 at the Sultan Agung Stadium in Bantul, is expected to mark another significant milestone in the ASEAN calendar. Supported by the European Union through EU-SAHA, ARDEX-23 is poised to reinforce national and regional preparedness while facilitating a collaborative response to disaster emergencies.
ARDEX-23 holds significant importance in strengthening national, regional, and international coordination to achieve disaster resilience. Through the comprehensive testing, practising, reviewing, and evaluating of ASEAN’s emergency response and disaster management mechanisms, including the SOPs for the Coordination of EMTs, MNCC, and the ASEAN Militaries Ready Group on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (AMRG on HADR), this regional exercise aims to enhance coordination capacity and preparedness. ARDEX exercises, which are conducted regularly every two years, have become key events in the ASEAN calendar and continue to contribute to the region’s disaster resilience efforts.
With ARDEX-23 on the horizon, the AHA Centre, BNPB Indonesia, ASEAN Member States, and stakeholders are gearing up to prepare for this vital regional exercise. As ARDEX continues to evolve, it reinforces the importance of preparedness and collaboration in effectively handling disaster emergencies in the ASEAN region and beyond.
Written by: Moch Syifa, Gladys Respati | Photo credits: AHA Centre
