ASEAN strengthens its collective response in disasters
Bogor – The ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) officially launched its induction course for the fifth batch of ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT) on 19 June in Bogor, Indonesia. The 100 hours course will commence from 19 to 29 June to prepare regional emergency responders in ASEAN for a faster and more coordinated response towards disasters.
The ASEAN-ERAT is formed to strengthen ASEAN's disaster preparedness and response, particularly in conducting rapid assessments and facilitating ASEAN's collective response in a timely manner. "ASEAN-ERAT is an essential component of our regional mechanism in disaster management. Since its inception in 2008, ASEAN-ERAT has been deployed with a total of 63 members of various ASEAN nationalities, in 12 disaster response missions in six disaster-affected countries in the region. With this fifth induction course, we will generate up to 130 personnel in 2015," said Mr Arnel Capili, Head of Operations of AHA Centre during the opening ceremony.
There are 29 participants, comprising the current batch of AHA Centre Executive (ACE) Programme Officers from ASEAN Member States, as well as representatives from civil society organisations, Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies (Thailand Red Cross and Indonesian Red Cross), ASEAN Secretariat and AHA Centre.
The induction course covers a range of emergency response; from policy framework to operational procedures and deployment on the ground. The course provides a holistic approach where the delivery of the materials is given not only in class rooms but also in the field through simulation exercises. Field simulation exercises will be held from 26 - 29 June at the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management Training (BNPB) Center in Sentul, Bogor.
"We believe with this comprehensive course, we will be able to project professionalism for the emergency responder in the region and add substantial values to the ASEAN Member States. This will also strengthen ASEAN's solidarity and collective response in disasters, to realise the One ASEAN One Response vision," said Mr Said Faisal, Executive Director of AHA Centre in his welcoming remarks. This fifth induction course is made possible with the support of the BNPB, Singapore Government (Singapore Civil Defence Force), Australian Government, Japan Government, ASEAN Secretariat, as well as partners to AHA Centre such as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA), AADMER Partnership Group (APG) and Channel News Asia.
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About ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre)
AHA Centre is an inter-governmental organisation established by ten (10) ASEAN Member States on 17 November 2011 with the aim to facilitate cooperation and coordination amongst ASEAN Member States and with relevant United Nations and international organisations in promoting regional collaboration in disaster management. AHA Centre is based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
About ASEAN – Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT)
The ASEAN-Emergency Rapid Assessment Team (ERAT) was established by the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) in 2007, in line with Article 11 of ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) and provisions under the ASEAN Standby Arrangements and Standard Operating Procedures (ASEAN-SASOP). ASEAN-ERAT was deployed for the first time following Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar in 2008. A fully-functional ASEAN-ERAT is identified as one of the flagship projects under the AAADMER Work Programme (2010-2015). Strengthening the capacity and role of ASEAN-ERAT through an ASEAN-ERAT Transformation Plan is one of the 21 priorities under the Phase 2 of the AADMER Work Programme (2013-2015).
In November 2013, the ACDM decided that the role of the ASEAN-ERAT should be expanded to include support to emergency response operations. In additional to rapid assessments, the current scope of ASEAN-ERAT includes support to logistics, emergency communications, and coordination, among others. Since then, the ASEAN-ERAT is known as the ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team.
For more information regarding the AHA Centre and ASEAN-ERAT please contact:
Andri Suryo
Communications Officer
AHA Center
andri.suryo@ahacentre.org
+62 21 230 5006 ext 111 (office) / +62 8112000882 (mobile)
For media inquiries, please contact:
Anindhitya
Media Officer
Public Outreach and Civil Society
ASEAN Secretariat
anindhitya@asean.org
+6221 7243372 ext. 336