Latest news with #NationalCommitteeforDisasterManagement
The Star
23-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Asean calls for joint natural disaster strategies as regional exercises kick off
PHNOM PENH: Senior Minister Kun Kim (pic) has highlighted how the Asean states are some of the region's most vulnerable to natural disasters, which severely impact lives, livelihoods and socio-economic development. He urged the implementation of comprehensive joint strategies to address these challenges. His remarks were made at the opening ceremony of the Asean Regional Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercise 2025 (Ardex-25), held at the Special Forces Command in Phnom Penh on Tuesday (July 22). 'Asean is highly susceptible to natural disasters such as floods, droughts, earthquakes, tsunamis and storms. These disasters have caused severe impacts on lives, living conditions and socio-economic development. "These challenges require collective, wide-ranging approaches that go beyond the capacity of any single country,' said Kim, who serves as first vice-president of the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) and is chairing Ardex-25. Speaking on behalf of Cambodia — a country which is vulnerable to such disasters — he underlined the importance of proactive preparedness and timely response. The Cambodian government has implemented a National Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction 2024–2028, a National Early Warning Map, strategic plans and various other policies to strengthen national disaster management capacities. He noted that the simulation exercises will significantly contribute to implementing Cambodia's national action plan and serve as a strong indicator of the country's commitment to Asean's socio-cultural community resilience through enhanced regional cooperation. Kim also recognised the critical role of the Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) as a key operational mechanism that coordinates Asean 's collective disaster response efforts. He stated that Ardex-25 is not merely a simulation but a vital step in deepening the implementation of the Asean Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER). He added that it is an essential opportunity to test the effectiveness of Asean's Standard Operating Procedures (SASOP) for regional readiness and coordinated disaster response. He expressed strong hope that this simulation would provide valuable lessons, laying the groundwork for further strengthening disaster management systems, sharing experiences, raising awareness and fostering closer bonds among Asean member states and international partners. This will help build a resilient Asean community, equipped with the resources, capabilities and protocols needed for rapid and effective response to emergencies — including search and rescue, humanitarian aid, joint assessments and efficient recovery efforts. The three-day regional simulation exercise, taking place from July 22 to 24, includes the participation of key figures such as Kao Kim Hourn, secretary-general of Asean, Kim Virak, secretary-general of the NCDM and chair of the Asean Committee on Disaster Management 2025 (ACDM 2025), Igor Driesmans, EU ambassador to Cambodia and Lee Yam Ming, executive director of the AHA Centre, as well as distinguished representatives from various ministries and embassies in Cambodia. Alongside them are senior officials from relevant ministries and institutions, foreign military attachés, Asean member states, Asean dialogue partners, development agencies, domestic and international organisations, and other stakeholders. Virak expressed appreciation for the presence of all delegates, saying it reflected a collective commitment to strengthen regional disaster response cooperation. He noted Cambodia's pride in hosting this major regional exercise. The exercise is also testing the Asean Standard Operating Procedure for Regional Standby Arrangements and Coordination of Joint Disaster Relief and Emergency Response Operations (SASOP) and the terms of reference for the Asean secretary-general as the Asean Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator. Ardex-25 comprises of table top, command post and field training exercises. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
Daily Tribune
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain, Pakistan Discuss Enhanced Collaboration on Security Matters
Public Security Chief and Chairman of the National Committee for Disaster Management, Lieutenant-General Tariq Al Hassan, welcomed a visiting security delegation from the Pakistan. The meeting was attended by Major-General Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Deputy Chief of Public Security, along with several senior Bahraini officers. Lt-Gen. Al Hassan warmly welcomed the Pakistani delegation, highlighting the close brotherly relations between the two nations and praising the ongoing cooperation in the field of security. During the discussion, both sides explored ways to enhance their security collaboration and addressed a number of topics of shared interest, reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening bilateral ties.
The Star
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Cambodia calls for deeper Asean unity to tackle natural disasters
PHNOM PENH: Regional cooperation remains crucial to protect the welfare of over 670 million people in the South-East Asia region, which is exposed to multiple hazards. At the 46th Asean Disaster Management Committee Meeting that kicked off in Cambodia on Tuesday (May 20), the host called for greater collaboration among the grouping's member states as the meeting reaffirmed their commitment to a stronger and more resilient region. "The continued engagement and support of the Asean member (states) is important when all members work together to promote local cooperation on disaster management,' Cambodian Senior Minister Kun Kim (pic), first vice president of the National Committee for Disaster Management, said at the opening ceremony, held in the touristic province of Siem Reap. South-East Asia is prone to natural disasters, from typhoons, droughts, earthquakes, landslides and volcanic eruptions to flooding during the rainy season, due to its geographical location. According to the Asian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC), the Philippines, located along the typhoon belt in the Pacific, for instance, encounters an average of 20 typhoons annually and five of those are considered destructive. In mainland South-East Asia, countries like Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam continue to face troubling natural calamities. Myanmar is still recovering from the devastating March 28 earthquake that killed more than 3,700 people. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Myanmar warned that over half a million people in earthquake-hit locations urgently need assistance. "Seven weeks on, the impacts of the March 28 earthquakes in central Myanmar continue to drive significant humanitarian needs, both for immediate relief and early recovery. "Many families remain displaced in temporary shelters or rental housing due to safety concerns, including fear of returning to structurally compromised homes, with limited sustainable long-term shelter solutions in sight,' OCHA Myanmar said in its May 17 "Myanmar: Earthquake Response' report. The ADRC reported that heavy rainfall in north-western Vietnam on May 16 triggered a landslide at the construction site of a hydropower plant that killed five and injured four others. - Bernama
The Star
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Asean disaster management senior officials, experts gather in Cambodia to enhance regional cooperation
Senior Minister Kun Kim, First Vice-President of the National Committee for Disaster Management. - Photo: AKP PHNOM PENH: The 46th meeting of the Asean Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) and related meetings kicked off in northwest Cambodia's Siem Reap province on Tuesday (May 20), discussing ways to advance regional collaboration and resilience. Cambodian Senior Minister Kun Kim, first vice president of the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), presided over the opening ceremony of the four-day event, which brought together Asean disaster management senior officials and experts, as well as Timor-Leste as an observer, said an NCDM press release. Representatives from Asean dialogue partners, namely China, Japan, and South Korea, also participated in the regional meeting, the press release added. The event reaffirmed ACDM's commitment to enhancing regional disaster resilience and to further strengthening partnerships with relevant stakeholders, it said. ACDM serves as a regional platform for enhancing cooperation among Asean member countries focused on disaster risk reduction and management, enhancing resilience and preparedness for disasters through capacity building and exchange of good practices. "The ACDM has increasingly contributed to the coordination and proactive approach to disaster management to enhance the safety, well-being and resilience of communities across the Southeast Asian region through the implementation of the Asean Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response," the press release said. Asean (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. - Xinhua
