The European Union’s (EU) Department for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations and ASEAN’s Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) have signed an agreement to further strengthen the cooperation between EU and ASEAN countries in disaster management.
The signed agreement, witnessed by ASEAN Community and Corporate Affairs Deputy Secretary General Nararya Soeprapto, would allow both regions to exchange knowledge and best practices, deploying and exchanging experts and developing training programmes in the field of disaster management.
“The agreement is proof of how concrete, results-orientated cooperation can strengthen disaster management and emergency response efforts on different sides of the world.
“EU is proud to have been a longstanding partner of ASEAN and the AHA Centre. And over the years, AHA Centre has become a knowledge hub on disaster management in ASEAN,” European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič said.
Commenting further, AHA Centre Executive Director Lee Yam Ming said the agreement demonstrates the centre’s commitment to elevate the partnership of the two regions in the field of disaster management and emergency response.
“Together, we can enhance speed, expand scale and strengthen solidarity responding to emergencies with the spirit of ‘One ASEAN, One Response’.
“We look forward to working with our colleagues from Europe in realising a more disaster-resilient global community,” he said.
Most recently, EU has been accompanying the development of the AHA Centre through a long-term support programme titled “Integrated Programmes in Enhancing the Capacity of the AHA Centre and ASEAN Emergency Response Mechanisms” (EU-SAHA).
With an EU contribution of €7.2 million for 2020-2025, EU-SAHA supports four areas: Strengthening institutional capacity, corporate policies and management of the AHA Centre, enhancing operational capacity of the centre in monitoring, preparing and responding to disasters, increasing preparedness and Respond-As-One capacities of ASEAN and enhancing professionalism through standards and certification.
