Promoting ASEAN cooperation on disaster management by 2023

The AHA Center's relief donation ceremony for the people of Central Vietnam.

The events of the 2023 Chairmanship year will be held in two phases, in June (in Da Nang ) and October (in Quang Ninh). From June 13-16, 2023, Vietnam will chair the 42nd session of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) and related meetings.

Vietnam has been demonstrating a proactive, positive, and responsible spirit in ASEAN cooperation, with disaster management being an important component within the Socio-Cultural Community pillar of ASEAN cooperation.

Hosting a major forum on disaster management in the ASEAN region is a responsibility of Vietnam, and also an opportunity for us to proactively lead, enhance the effectiveness, position, and role of Vietnam in ASEAN cooperation on disaster management in particular, and in building the ASEAN Community and relations between ASEAN and its partners in general.

“From Response to Early Action and Enhanced Resilience: ASEAN Towards Global Leadership in Disaster Management” is the theme proposed by Vietnam and unanimously selected by ASEAN countries' disaster management agencies for regional cooperation on disaster management in 2023.

"Early action," while a relatively new concept for Vietnam and the region, essentially refers to intervention activities and measures implemented proactively by disaster prevention and control agencies based on early forecasts, warnings, or risk analysis. The increasing emphasis on early action by ASEAN countries reflects a growing commitment to innovating approaches to disaster risk management and mitigation.

Numerous statistics show that early action helps minimize loss of life and property, and strengthens community resilience. The ASEAN Framework on Early Action in Disaster Management was promoted by the ACDM between November 2021 and May 2022, with the goal of ensuring that early warnings are translated into effective early actions, thereby mitigating the impacts of natural disasters across the region.

It is expected that at the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management (AMMDM) to be held in Quang Ninh (Vietnam) in October 2023, the countries will adopt the Ha Long Declaration on Early Action in ASEAN Disaster Management.

Continuously innovating and promoting cooperation among member states in the field of disaster management, ASEAN is also committed to realizing its vision of becoming a global leader in disaster management through the exchange and sharing of knowledge and best practices, as well as contributing to global efforts in disaster risk response. This is also the message that the ASEAN Disaster Management Cooperation Year 2023 aims to convey.

ASEAN disaster response officers participated in the 14th ASEAN Emergency Assessment and Response Officers Training Program (ASEAN-ERAT) held in Da Nang in February 2023.

Mr. Pham Duc Luan, Director of the Department of Dike Management and Disaster Prevention and Control, and Chief of the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee on Disaster Prevention and Control, stated: In its role as Chair of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management in 2023, and also as Chair of the AHA Centre's Board of Directors, Vietnam has proactively led and guided this cooperation by coordinating with the AHA Centre and the ASEAN Secretariat to work with relevant parties and ASEAN Partners to mobilize resources for the implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response Work Programme for the period 2021-2025.

Besides chairing and organizing the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management, the Meeting of Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER), the Ministerial Meeting with ASEAN Partners (China, South Korea, Japan), and the 42nd and 43rd annual meetings of the ACDM in Vietnam in its role as Chair, Vietnam also actively participates in regional activities to promote cooperation within ASEAN and with partners.

Specifically, Vietnam has guided relevant units (rescue and relief, medical, and local authorities) to participate in the ASEAN Regional Emergency Response Exercise (ARDEX) in Indonesia; mobilized and deployed ASEAN humanitarian assistance in Myanmar in response to Typhoon Mocha; and coordinated with Singapore, the ASEAN Secretariat, and the AHA Centre to organize major events to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of ACDM.

Furthermore, Vietnam organized forums and workshops for ASEAN countries to share their experiences in disaster prevention and mitigation, while also showcasing its people, nature, culture, and achievements to the international community; developed the "Ha Long Declaration on Early Action in ASEAN Disaster Management" to mark its chairmanship year; not only actively participated in multilateral cooperation mechanisms, but also, in its chairmanship, paid close attention to promoting bilateral cooperation mechanisms within ASEAN; and made efforts to support East Timor in its process of officially joining ASEAN.

Source: https://dttg.baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/thuc-day-hop-tac-asean-ve-quan-ly-thien-tai-nam-2023-359430.html