By Thin Lei Win
BANGKOK (AlertNet) - The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has ratified a landmark agreement to improve the region's to handle natural disasters.
Here are some questions and answers on the pact.
WHAT IS AADMER?
AADMER stands for ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response. It was signed by ASEAN foreign ministers in July 2005 and came into force on Dec 24, 2009 after ratification by member countries.
WHY IS IT SIGNIFICANT?
This is the first binding agreement of its kind that focuses on managing the risk of disasters in a region.
It requires member countries to do a number of things including: drawing up a set of standard operating procedures for providing relief and recovery in the aftermath of a disaster, setting up early warning systems, identifying disaster risk areas and cooperating on technology and scientific research.
So far, countries have been responding to disasters on an ad-hoc basis and in a reactive way. The agreement shifts the focus on
reducing the risks of disasters and advocates a more proactive approach to dealing with disasters.
It is also one of the fastest negotiated agreements in ASEAN history, taking only four months to be signed. The expectations
are high of what a concerted, coordinated and proactive effort on disaster management can mean to this disaster-prone region.
WHAT WILL IT DO?
AADMER is supposed to bring together the ASEAN countries -- which have varying capacities, disaster risks and development levels -- and get them to focus on a problem that affects development and clips economic growth.
A programme for 2010 - 2015 detailing AADMER activities is currently being developed by a few partners including UNISDR and Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC).
The programme to be adopted in March outlines activities in four areas:
* risk assessment, early warning and monitoring,
* emergency relief, prevention and mitigation
* preparedness and response
* recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction
It also requires governments to work with civil society and non-government organisation on all the areas.
Observers say there is still lack of clarity on a few matters including how the new ASEAN Charter will affect AADMER, the role of the donors and volunteers, the exact nature of some of the activities, and enforcement and funding which is currently voluntary.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?
CAPACITY - Both the ASEAN secretariat and the AHA Centre do not have enough resources.
ENFORCEMENT & PENALTIES - Without a sanctions mechanism, it is unclear what ASEAN can do to errant member countries who do not follow the terms of AADMER.
TIME - Currently AADMER is still at a regional level. Incorporating it into national laws and regulations can take years.
COORDINATION - By linking development with natural disasters and advocating the inclusion of activities that reduce the risk of
disasters in government processes, AADMER is calling for different ministries and departments who for the most part have worked independently to cooperate.
CROWDED FIELD - The fields of disaster management and development boast many established players and AADMER is a new animal in an already crowded place.
To read the main story on the agreement, please click here
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