Vietnam hosts 11th ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Disaster Management

According to the rotation order among ASEAN countries, in 2023, Vietnam will assume the role of Chair of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM), host the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management and related meetings of ACDM, the ASEAN Regional Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disasters (AHA), etc.

Việt Nam tổ chức Hội nghị Bộ trưởng ASEAN về quản lý thiên tai lần thứ 11 - Ảnh 1. — Mr. Pham Duc Luan, Director of the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control

Hosting a major forum on disaster management in the ASEAN region is Vietnam's obligation, and at the same time an opportunity to proactively lead, enhance efficiency, position and demonstrate Vietnam's role in ASEAN cooperation on disaster management in particular and in building the ASEAN community in general.

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

Mr. Pham Duc Luan, Director of the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), said that since the beginning of the year, as the Chair of the ASEAN Committee on Natural Disaster Management, Vietnam has closely coordinated with the ASEAN Secretariat, AHA, ASEAN partners and relevant agencies to develop plans, implementation programs and mobilize resources to carry out disaster management and emergency response activities during the year.

According to Mr. Luan, from February 12 to 20, in Da Nang City, Vietnam coordinated with AHA to organize training for ASEAN Disaster Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT) for disaster prevention and control officers of 10 ASEAN member countries.

This is one of the practical cooperation mechanisms in the region. ASEAN - ERAT was established by consensus of 10 ASEAN countries to enhance the readiness and capacity of member countries, ensure rapid, synchronous and unified response within the bloc, and promote the combined strength of the region in supporting member countries affected by disasters and natural disasters. Members of ASEAN - ERAT teams are always the core in relief activities, for example, relief in Myanmar after the recent storm MOCHA.

"To share experiences in natural disaster prevention and control as well as achievements in disaster risk reduction with countries in the region, we have also planned to organize a number of seminars, professional forums and field trips for representatives of natural disaster prevention and control agencies in key areas as well as large and important natural disaster prevention and control projects in Vietnam, especially in the Mekong Delta region," said Mr. Luan.

Southeast Asia is one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world. Natural disasters including floods, storms, heat waves, droughts, and even earthquakes and tsunamis cost countries in the region an average of $86.5 billion in annual economic losses, according to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific .

According to statistics from 2012 - 2020, at least 2,916 natural disasters occurred in Southeast Asia, including several large-scale ones such as Typhoon Bopha (2012) in the Philippines; Typhoon Haiyan (2013) in the Philippines; earthquake and tsunami in Central Sulawesi (2018) in Indonesia; Typhoon Mangkhut (2018) in the Philippines and Typhoon Damrey (2017) in Vietnam...

In this context, cooperation among ASEAN member states in disaster management has become a highlight in the multi-sectoral and multi-sectoral cooperation and commitment within the region, as well as with partners outside the region. Disaster risk reduction is also one of ASEAN's top priorities to achieve the goal of disaster risk reduction as well as the sustainable development goals by 2030.

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