CONCEPT PAPER ASEAN REGIONAL DISASTER RELIEF EXERCISES 2015

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Meghan Hall
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1 CONCEPT PAPER ASEAN REGIONAL DISASTER RELIEF EXERCISES 2015 PURPOSE This concept paper aims to outline the proposal by Malaysia and People's Republic of China (PRC) in organizing the biennial ASEAN Regional Forum Disaster Relief Exercises (ARF DiREx) in CO-CHAIRMANSHIP 2. Malaysia and PRC will co-chair ARF DiREX The co-chairmanship was announced at the ARF Inter-sessional Group on Confidence Building Measures and Preventive Diplomacy (ISG on CBMs and PD) that was held in Yangon, Myanmar on 9 and 10 December ARF Participating Countries are strongly encouraged to become co-sponsors. The Co-Chairs look forward to having active participation and contribution in terms of assets, given that a comprehensive approach would make the exercise more realistic and effective hence making ARF DiREx 2015 a success. FOCUS OF ARF DiREx The main focus of ARF DiREx 2015 will be to test the civil-military coordination efforts, create synergy, and synchronize efforts towards supporting the effective implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) as the common platform for disaster management of the region. It will also continue the progress made by the previously held ARF DiREx and take on some of the recommendations made by the previous Co- Chairs. 5. In addition to the above, the ARF DiREx 2015 is expected to test the region s preparedness and resilience to address the following specific challenges: 1

2 5.1. Strengthen the effective utilisation and quick deployment of the ASEAN Standby Arrangements for Disaster Relief and Emergency Response, including the ASEAN-Emergency Rapid Assessment Team (ERAT); 5.2. Effective operationalisation of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) and its important role as the operational engine of AADMER to enhance regional cooperation in disaster management and ensure ASEAN s collective response to disasters in the region; 5.3. Coordination of multi-national maritime search and rescue; 5.4. Management of mass casualties which among others would involve communication breakdown and engineering difficulties; 5.5. Receiving of aid / humanitarian assistance as well as its effective and timely distribution; 5.6. Special needs of vulnerable population i.e. women, children and people with disabilities in the disaster area. Among others this could involve the setting up of a special medical facility to cater for the needs of the vulnerable group; 5.7. Management of consular assistance to foreign tourists in the disaster area; 5.8. Coordination and information sharing with foreign embassies in the disaster affected country; 5.9. Management of media officials and control of information outflow (management of information); and Role of international and local volunteers and their coordination with the HADR authorities. 2

3 PROPOSED DISASTER SCENARIOS 6. The overarching scenario will be a super typhoon impacting the Northern part of Peninsular Malaysia. Consequently, the following scenarios but not limited to, could be simulated: 6.1. Natural Disasters: floods and mass evacuation Manmade Disasters: search and rescue of plane crash, search and rescue of boat accident, managing of oil spill, building collapse, industrial accidents, hazmat accidents/chemical leakage, dam failure and cable car accident. VENUE OF ARF DiREx The Co-Chairs proposed for the Command Centre of ARF DiREx 2015 be established at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) located in Sintok, Kedah. The UUM campus is located on an area of 1,061 hectares in Sintok, situated about 48 kilometres north of Alor Setar, the capital of the state of Kedah. The Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercises will be simulated either within the campus vicinity or within a radius of 60 kilometres off the campus. 8. Advantages of the proposed venue: 8.1. Accommodation: The UUM campus could easily accommodate 2000 participants in a hostel format, dormitory style accommodation. There is also a university hotel located next to the main campus to accommodate Heads of Delegations and Senior Officials. Several other hotels are also available in Alor Setar, which is located approximately 50 kilometres from the UUM Campus Airport Entry Point: The Sultan Abdul Halim Airport is located approximately 40 kilometers from the UUM campus. Related facilities are 3

4 also available at the Air Force College in Kepala Batas, Kedah which is located 10 kilometres from the airport. Other airport entry points include: Hat Yai International Airport, Thailand (approx. 80 kilometres); Langkawi International Airport (approx. 90 kilometres include ferry travel); Penang International Airport (approx. 160 kilometres); and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (approx. 520 kilometres) Airdrop Area: The UUM Campus is located approximately 40 kilometres to the Sugarcane Plantation and Refinery Mill in Chuping, Perlis which can be conveniently used as an airdrop area for humanitarian assistance The Water Search and Rescue Exercise: Timah Tasoh Dam in Perlis can be used to simulate the evacuation of villagers living in the vicinity of the dam in the event of emergency spillway, dam failures and landslides. It is located approximately 60 kilometres northwest of the UUM Campus The Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise: Kuala Perlis Waters are suitable as the venue for the maritime component of the Search and Rescue Exercises. The ARF DiREx in 2013 saw naval assets from ARF Participating Countries being brought in to execute and support the rescue operation. The ports at Penang, Langkawi and Kuala Perlis can be used to accommodate the incoming assets. TIMELINE OF ARF DIREX The Co-Chairs proposed for ARF DiREx 2015 to be held from 1 to 6 February The following are the proposed key milestones of ARF DiREx 2015: Endorsement of the Concept Paper of ARF DiREx 2015 at the 21 st ARF in August 2014; 4

5 10.2. Initial Site Survey (ISS) and Initial Planning Conference (IPC) on 9-11 September 2014; Final Site Survey (FSS) and Final Planning Conference (FPC) on 4-6 November 2014; ARF DiREx 2015 (Table Top Exercise (TTX), Field Training Exercise (FTX) and After Action Review (AAR) on 1-6 February COMMEMORATIVE PUBLICATION OF ARF DIREX The Co-Chairs is proposing for the development of a special commemorative publication essentially to record the progress of ARF DiREx The publication among others could include photos of ARF DiREx 2015, write-up by experts / academician on HADR in this region, recommendations of ARF DiREx 2015, and selected HADR documents. 12. The publication is intended to be launched at the sidelines of the 22 nd ARF in COMMENTS Please direct comments or questions on this proposal to: Mr. Shahril Nizam Abdul Malek Director, ASEAN Political-Security Community Division II ASEAN-Malaysia National Secretariat Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia shahriln@kln.gov.my Mr. Song Jianming First Secretary Department of Asian Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs People s Republic of China song_jianming@mfa.gov.cn 5

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