"The heads of state/government of ASEAN member countries have agreed that the AHA Centre should be set up in Indonesia this year," Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono said here Thursday.
The AHA Center was to be established with the objective of facilitating cooperation and coordination among ASEAN member countries, the United Nations and other international organizations in promoting regional collaboration in disaster handling.
"The AHA Center is also expected to become a coordination and information center for disaster handling in ASEAN," he said.
"We also hope that with the existence of the AHA Centre, the capacity and capability of disaster management in Indonesia will be improved," the minister said.
Meanwhile, the secretary to the coordinating minister for people`s welfare, Indroyono Susilo, said that the functions of the AHA center could be classified into five: as the ASEAN disaster information center; the center for assistance mobilization for ASEAN member countries; the operation coordination center, including for joint emergency response; administrative coordination center; and the coordinating center for knowledge and study on disasters in ASEAN.
The AHA Center will facilitate the establishment, maintenance and periodical review of regional standby arrangements for disaster relief and emergency response.
It will also facilitate periodic review of regional standard operating procedures.
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Editor: Bambang
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