AHA set a record for completing work in the year Vietnam chaired ACDM

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Expectations for the Ha Long Declaration at the 43rd Meeting of the ASEAN Committee

Vietnam actively participates in natural disaster management cooperation

According to the report at the 19^th Meeting of the Governing Board of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre), as of September 2023, AHA has completed 87% of the year’s work plan and is expected to complete 97% of the plan by the end of the year.

If the AHA Centre achieves this number, this year will be the year it has the highest rate of completing the work plan since its establishment in 2011.

The AHA Centre is an inter-governmental organization established by 10 ASEAN member states with the purpose of facilitating cooperation and coordination on disaster management in the Southeast Asia region.

The agreement to establish the AHA Centre on Disaster Management was signed by Ministers of ASEAN states on November 17, 2011. To carry out its tasks, the AHA Centre mainly works with the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) of ASEAN states. Additionally, the Centre also cooperates with several organizations, such as the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the United Nations, and the AADMER Partnership Group.

In the event of large-scale disasters such as Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 in the Philippines, the AHA Centre will coordinate with the ASEAN Secretary-General, who will serve as the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator, to mobilize additional resources and, at the same time, coordinate with ASEAN leaders and international organizations.

Besides, the AHA Centre regularly reports its progress and activities to the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM). ACDM members include the NDMO heads of the 10 ASEAN member states that serve as the Governing Board of AHA Centre.

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Effective inheritance of natural disaster adaptation activities

In 2023, as Chairman of the Governing Board of AHA Centre, in addition to actively participating in general activities, Vietnam has successfully organized a number of activities, such as: the ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT) Induction Course; the Project “Strengthening AHA Centre Institutional Capacity”; and workshops under the Project “Operationalizing the ASEAN Standards and Certification for Experts in Disaster Management (ASCEND),” etc.

Some important marks that the AHA Centre and the Governing Board achieved in the year Vietnam chaired ACDM include: successfully organizing the ASEAN Disaster Management Week in Singapore, the ASEAN Regional Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercise in Indonesia, and the series of the One ASEAN One Response Programme in five countries; and providing humanitarian assistance to Myanmar.

The Centre also responds promptly to natural disasters such as tropical storm Doksuri and tropical storm Khanun.

Evaluating AHA's work in 2023, Ms. Doan Thi Tuyet Nga, Director of the Department of Science, Technology, and International Cooperation, Department of Dike Management and Disaster Prevention and Control under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the AHA Centre has gathered and processed information in detail from warning agencies and monitored natural disasters and dangerous natural phenomena in 10 ASEAN member states, from earthquakes and volcanoes to forest fires, landslides, etc.

AHA also provided that information quickly and accurately, in many forms, such as email and voice messages, to the functional agencies of each country. From that information, relevant ASEAN countries will consider, make handling decisions, and coordinate to support handling disasters.

At the same time, Ms. Nga encouraged ASEAN member states to actively participate in coordination with the AHA Centre, continue to exchange valuable experiences and knowledge, and share best practices towards building an ASEAN community that is more resilient and compassionate.

At the meeting on October 10, delegates from ASEAN countries exchanged and updated the progress of the AHA Centre's activities, the Centre’s organizational consolidation and development work, the financial situation and annual operating budget, and the fact of accepting support from ASEAN dialogue partners and the Centre's partners.

In an exchange with the Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper, Mr. Sithu Pe Thein, Director of AHA, said that the Centre is coordinating with the New Zealand Government to deploy the Project “Strengthening AHA Centre Institutional Capacity” lasting two years.

The kick-off meeting between units and the AHA Centre took place in May 2023. A workshop presenting initial findings on impact and transformation research was also held in Ho Chi Minh City last September.

After finishing the series of events in Ha Long city, Quang Ninh, the AHA Centre will invite experts and heads of ASEAN disaster prevention and control agencies to attend training seminars, create a training map, and set out a roadmap to strengthen ASEAN's resilience through a capacity-strengthening roadmap.