ASEAN day for disaster management, 13 October 2011

On the second Wednesday of October of every year, ASEAN Member States observe the ASEAN Day for Disaster Management (ADDM). The Day coincides with the United Nations’ International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) as it is observed on the same day. Both ADDM and IDDR serve as a strategy to increase the level of disaster risk reduction awareness of the people and thus loss and damage due to disaster can be prevented, reduced and minimised. ADDM is one of the annual activities of the Work Programme under the Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER). Under the AADMER Work Program, Thailand is the lead shepherd country to implement the ADDM.

Objectives:

- To increase the level of consciousness of the people in South East Asia with regards to disaster risk reduction;
- To maintain good cooperation and collaboration among parties concerned in building the awareness of the people in association with disaster risk reduction;
- To promote ASEAN’s efforts and increase the visibility of ASEAN on disaster risk reduction to the general public at all levels.

The ASEAN has been organising this annual event since 2005. In 2005, ASEAN Member States observed ADDM rather independently by doing their own national activities such as organising exhibitions, releasing printed media and related undertakings. However, since 2006, the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) has been organising activities and events pertinent to disaster management to observe ADDM and IDDR in partnership with the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR).

The theme of the 2011 International Day for Disaster Reduction and ASEAN Day for Disaster Management is “Save My Future”- Invest Today for a Safer Tomorrow. It aims to elaborate a strong message that committing resources and actions for disaster risk reduction is an investment for a better future, especially of young generations. One of the highlights of the annual event is the Children’s Drawing Competition which began in 2008 to promote awareness of DRR among children. This year's (2011) drawing competition carries the theme “Save My Future: Climate Change and Me”, which is made in line with the theme of the global UNISDR campaign.

Please click here for the more information on the 2011 ASEAN Day for Disaster Management (ADDM) and the ASEAN Youth Drawing Competition for 2011.

Observance of the ASEAN Day for Disaster Management (ADDM) for 2011 will be held on 13 October 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand.

For more information, please contact Ms. Erie Vitria, erie.vitria@asean.org