October 2006 - EAERR Joined Emergency Disaster Response Exercise (ERDEX06)
EAERR Joined Emergency Disaster Response Exercise (ERDEX06)
EAERR has been invited to participate in the Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercise (ARDEX 06) conducted on 27-28 September 2006 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. ARDEX 06 is the second of a series of annual disaster simulation exercise which ASEAN conduct to enhance the capabilities of Member Countries in joint emergency operations. The actual location of this exercise was in a small village 8 kilometers south of Phnom Penh, simulated being destroyed by flood. The search and rescue operation was carried-out by Cambodia Armed Forces, Navy, Air Force, Military Police, medical teams, and supported by ASEAN Teams came from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. During the exercise more than 2,000 people involved including observers from international organizations such as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UN HCR), UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent (IFRC), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, Pacific Disaster Center, and EAERR. Following ARDEX 06, the 8th ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) Annual Meeting was conducted on 29 September 2006 to discuss implementation of various planning in relation to disaster management. During the Meeting the Guidelines for the Release of EAERR Stocks was presented and discussed as inputs in drafting the Standard Operation Procedures in response to disaster. The possibility of inclusion of Plus Three Countries to strengthen capability of Member Country in disaster management was also thoroughly discussed. (Pictures on ARDEX exercise and 8th ACDM Meeting could be included in the text).
EAERR Rice Aids for Victims of Volcano Eruptions and Typhoon in Philippines.
Mt. Mayon in Albay and Mt. Bulusan in Sorsogon exploded in July and June 2006 respectively. On 27 September 2006, typhoon Milenyo hit both areas again causing damages on people's houses and agriculture areas. Government of Philippines through National Food Authority (NFA) has made a request for releasing 150 and 200 MT of rice respectively to EAERR. Since August 2006, a part of the rice has been distributed to the victims. EAERR rice is one of the significant food sources during disaster period for the affected people. They were satisfied with the taste and quality of the rice. Honorable Governor Fernando Gonzales of Albay expressed his appreciation to EAERR for rice aid responding to the emergency need on the right time.
Landslide Victims in Leyte Expressed Gratitude to EAERR.
EAERR has provided approximately 200 metric tons (MT) of rice as food relief program for landslide victims in Leyte (Saint Bernard and Guinsaugon). The rice distributed under Food for Work type activities coordinated by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and National Food Authority (NFA), Philippines. MT EAERR has visited the disaster areas in Leyte and having discussion with Provincial Disaster Committee chaired by Mayor of Saint Bernard, Leyte, Madame Felix B. Lim. During the discussion Mayor on behalf of the people of Leyte expressed appreciation to EAERR and Government of Japan for providing food assistance to the calamity stricken areas. According to her the food aid has been very useful since most of the families have not returned into normal life and lost their properties, therefore joining food for work program has ensured their daily income until they can get more permanent jobs.
