RI to host Asean disaster relief exercise in March 2011

Antara News, Friday, July 23, 2010 20:20 WIB

Jakarta  (ANTARA News) - Indonesia is to host an ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Disaster Relief Exercise in March 2011 in Manado, North Sulawesi.

The joint exercise co-chaired by Indonesia and Japan would aim to strengthen international cooperation and increase the capacity of related government officials to handle post-disaster situations.

Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa and his Japanese counterpart , Katsuya Okada, made the announcement in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Friday during the ARF`s Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting.

The idea to hold the exercise in Manado was raised since Indonesia was considered very experienced in handling post-disaster situations as it was prone to seismic upheavals due to its location on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arch of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.

Officials from 27 countries including the European Union were expected to participate in the exercise.

The main scenario to be used in the exercise would be an earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale which struck Wori district, North Sulawesi, followed by a tsunami wave that caused many casualties and damage to the area.

The exercise would focus on coordination among officials at the disaster mitigation office, evacuation and identification of victims, logistics distribution, hospitalization system after the disaster and relocation program.

Some preparatory activities had already been started by related parties in Indonesia, namely the Foreign Affairs Ministry, National Disaster Mitigation Board (BNPB), Defense Ministry, National Defense Forces and the government of North Sulawesi.

During the 16th ARF Ministerial Meeting in Thailand last year, Indonesia announced its intention to host a disaster relief exercise.