The opening session of the 42^nd meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM), an important cooperation content amongst pillars of ASEAN Socio Cultural Community, took place solemnly in Da Nang on Tuesday. This was the most important conference in 2023, the year Viet Nam assumes the role of ACDM Chair.

Delegates attending the opening session of the 42nd meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) perform the ASEAN flag salute ceremony, June 13, 2023. Photo: HOANG HIEP

In attendance at the event were ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General Ekkaphab Phanthavong, as well as over 60 international delegates, including leaders and officials from the disaster management agencies of the 10 ASEAN member countries, the ASEAN Secretariat, the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre), ASEAN's development partners, including China, South Korea and Japan, and various international organisations in the region. Timor-Leste participated as an observer at the conference.

Addressing the opening session, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development cum Deputy Head of the Viet Nam National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control expressed concern that in the first half of 2023, there had been an alarming rise in the occurrence of meteorological and hydrological disasters in many ASEAN countries.

Mr. Hiep extended his condolences to those who had suffered the loss due to Cyclone Mocha making landfall in Rakhine state, Myanmar last month. He affirmed that the recent devastating impact of this destructive cyclone serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for ASEAN member countries to intensify their efforts in mitigating disaster risks.

In its role as the Chair of the ACDM in 2023, Viet Nam is actively promoting the theme for the ACDM chairmanship year, which focuses on ‘From Response to Anticipatory Action and Resilience: ASEAN Journey towards Global Leadership in Disaster Management’. This theme emphasises an orientation switch from passive response to proactive prevention

2023 is also a crucial year for the ACDM as it commemorates its 20^th anniversary since its inception. Two decades ago, the trailblazers laid the foundation for the establishment of the ACDM, which involved the creation of National Disaster Management Offices in all ASEAN member countries, to provide strategic guidance and foster regional cooperation in the realm of disaster management.

Delegates attending the conference demonstrate the solidarity and cooperation of ASEAN countries, June 13, 2023. Photo: HOANG HIEP

2023 marks the midpoint evaluation of the ARDEX (ASEAN Regional Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercise) program for the 2021-2025 period.

Viet Nam has undertaken a mid-term evaluation of the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. One of the key aspects emphasized is the significance of having a strong legal framework for effective disaster risk management.

The Tuesday meeting discussed the implementation progress of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) Work Programme for 2021-2025; and reviewed the building and carrying out of documents, mechanisms and activities involving regional cooperation in the field.

Also tabled at the ongoing conference are youth’s ideas for a resilient region, a communications framework for disaster risks facing the bloc, and the AHA Centre’s financial regulation, among other matters.

Lasting until June 16, the event also features the 18th meeting of the AHA Centre Governing Board, 3rd ASEAN Disaster Resilience Platform (ADRP) meeting, and meetings between the ACDM and the development partners.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP - Translating by A.THU