Chaired the 18th ASEAN Coordination Center for Humanitarian Assistance in Disaster Management (AHA Center) meeting
Co-chairing the meeting was the representative of ACDM Vietnam: Ms. Doan Thi Tuyet Nga, Department of Dike Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Colonel Muhd Harrith Rashidi bin Haji Muhd Jamin, Director of the Brunei National Center for Disaster Management. Also attending the meeting were representatives of ASEAN member states, the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Regional Coordinating Center for Disaster Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centre).
Overview of the 18th meeting of the Board of Directors of the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance in Disaster Management (AHA Center)
At the meeting, the delegates discussed the following issues: Update progress of AHA center; Organizational development of the AHA center; Financial situation of the AHA center; Accept support from ASEAN dialogue partners and AHA center partners; date and place for the 19th meeting of the AHA Center's Board of Directors; Other problems.
The ASEAN Coordination Center for Humanitarian Assistance in Disaster Management (AHA Center) is an intergovernmental organization that promotes cooperation and coordination among ASEAN Member States, the United Nations and international organizations. on disaster management and emergency response in the ASEAN region. The Center was established by the 10 ASEAN member countries in January 2011, through the signing of an Agreement on the Establishment of the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance in Disaster Management in Bali, Indonesia. The AHA Center is located in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Over the years, the AHA Center has remained steadfast in its commitment to promoting cooperation, coordination and capacity building among ASEAN member states. Together, significant progress has been made in strengthening regional response mechanisms, improving early warning systems and strengthening disaster risk reduction strategies. The AHA Center has been maximizing efforts to carry out their activities such as capacity building programs, training, workshops and emergency response.
AHA Center has achieved important achievements in implementing the Work Plan in the first quarter of 2023. As of May, a month past the first quarter of the year, the AHA Center has achieved 51% of the 149 activities planned for 2023. This is higher than 40% in the same period last year.
Representative of Vietnam speaks at the 18th ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance in Disaster Management (AHA Center) Meeting
At the meeting, Ms. Doan Thi Tuyet Nga also offered her condolences and sympathy to those affected by the devastation caused by Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar and expressed her sincere gratitude for the considerable efforts. and excellent emergency response carried out by AHA Center after Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar.
Delegates attending the 18th ASEAN Coordination Center for Humanitarian Assistance in Disaster Management (AHA Center) meeting
At the end of the meeting, Ms. Doan Thi Tuyet Nga thanked and highly appreciated Vice President of Brunei Darussalam and members of the Executive Board, ASEAN Secretariat and AHA Center for this cooperation; noted the strong commitment of Member States in strengthening disaster preparedness and response capacity across the ASEAN region, towards building a more resilient and compassionate ASEAN community, strengthening coordination, faster response times, and improved support for affected communities during times of crisis.
This year, Vietnam cooperated with AHA Center in organizing the 14th ASEAN-ERAT Introduction Course in February. At the meeting, on behalf of the Vietnamese side, Ms. Doan Thi Tuyet Nga expressed her thanks to SCDF Singapore for its extensive support to the AHA Center by organizing the ASEAN Emergency Telecommunication Network (ETN) Workshop and Training in February and ASEAN-ERAT Level 2 in April this year. At the same time, we would also like to thank BNPB Indonesia for organizing the first implementation of the ASEAN-ERAT Level 3 courses in May.
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