ASEAN, EAF TO FORMULATE OPERATIONAL STANDARDS FOR DISASTER MITIGATION

Hua Hin, Thailand, Oct 25 (ANTARA) - The Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) and the East Asia Forum will formulate Standard Operational Procedures (SOP) for natural disaster mitigation as a follow up action to the agreement between the two sides at the 4th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Thailand on October 23to 25, 2009.

The commitment is implemented on the Hua Hin Statement on East the Asia Summit (EAS) Disaster Management signed here on Sunday, ASEAN Secretary General, Surin Pitsuwan, said here on Sunday.

"We have discussed the establishment of SOP for natural disaster response at a meeting with members of ASEAN and the East Asia Forum," Surin said.

The secretary general explained that natural disasters have become one of the main topics discussed between ASEAN countries and the East Asia Forum in view of the high frequency of disasters in the Southeast Asia region.

ASEAN and the East Asia Forum (consisting of China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand) have issued a commitment to enhance cooperation on natural disaster response in order to minimize the damage caused. Both sides have also agreed on the importance to improve public knowledge about natural disasters.
In order to support the new program, the Japanese government has contributed US$13 million under the Japan-ASEAN fund for disaster management and emergency response.

Meanwhile, leaders of 10 ASEAN countries in a joint statement entitled "Improving Connection, Empowering Communities" consisted of 57 items expressed their commitment to maximize the role of the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA) which was established by Approval of ASEAN in terms of disaster and emergency response (ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Relief and Emergency Response/AADMER). ***5***