THE 4TH OAOR
FOSTERING A STRONG BOND OF HUMANITARIANS AND STAKEHOLDERS FROM DIFFERENT SECTORS
The 4th One ASEAN One Response Roadshow (OAOR) was held in Penang, Malaysia on 4 September 2023, with more than 150 participants involved. The roadshow is a platform for the exchange of related questions and the challenges on the adoption of the OAOR vision with relevant stakeholders, particularly in Malaysia.
It is important to raise awareness of the operationalisation of One ASEAN One Response among the stakeholders in the ASEAN region as they must have a firm grasp of the regional mechanisms and their respective roles. By having the same understanding, this will help enable seamless coordination, resource optimisation, and effective response strategies across different levels.
The Executive Director of the AHA Centre Mr. Lee Yam Ming emphasised that OAOR is designed as a knowledge sharing among the stakeholders from the national, regional and international levels. Understanding that during the emergency responses, good coordination from different sectors is essential. “One ASEAN One Response envisions to foster a strong bond of humanitarians and stakeholders from different sectors, to respond to disasters as One with increased speed, scale, and solidarity,” he added during the opening speech.
One ASEAN One Response itself is an open and inclusive platform using ASEAN’s mechanisms at its core. Therefore, having divers and different stakeholders involved in this spirit will help increase the effectiveness of humanitarian response, particularly in the region.
Mr. Lee Yam Ming added that one of the tangible actions in operationalising One ASEAN One Response is during the conduct of ASEAN Regional Disaster Emergency Response Exercise (ARDEX) 2023 held in Yogyakarta in August 2023. More than 180 players from the ASEAN Member States and over 500 national and local players joined the regional exercise to test the harmony of national, regional, and international mechanisms, including the ASEAN SASOP. “Malaysia also participated in the ARDEX-23 exercise and showcased not only their understanding of the regional mechanism but also their technical expertise in Search and Rescue operations,” he added.
Supported by the European Union Mission to ASEAN, One ASEAN One Response Roadshow in Malaysia was attended by various stakeholders, including partners from the United Nations. During the session, AHA Centre, ASEAN Secretariat, UN OCHA, and National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) of Malaysia had the opportunity to present their roles and mechanisms during the emergency situation.
One ASEAN One Response Roadshow is a regular event co-organised by AHA Centre and ASEAN Member States as a platform for knowledge sharing from different actors and stakeholders as well as familiarising the ASEAN mechanism during emergencies.
Written by: Moch Syifa | Photos by: NADMA Malaysia, Penang State Government
