Indonesia Calls for ASEAN Cooperation Against Disasters and Pandemics

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency [BNPB] head Doni Monardo has called for increased cooperation among ASEAN countries in dealing with Covid-19. eight months after the pandemic was detected in Indonesia and the rest of Southeast Asia.

“I call on ASEAN ministers and officials dealing with natural disasters to explore possible cooperation to deal with [the Covid-19] pandemic,” the former general said during a virtual meeting of ASEAN officials on Friday, 27 November.

“[Indonesia and other] ASEAN countries are currently facing the same challenges, namely the Covid-19 pandemic and other natural disasters.”

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Doni suggested that ASEAN use a comprehensive model in dealing with disasters.

“[ASEAN] should use a ‘penta-helix’ model involving the central government and local administrations. This approach should also involve civil society, the private sector, academics and the mass media, and other stakeholders,” he asserted.

“I also hope that the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management, will also be involved in relief efforts in the ASEAN region,” said Doni, who is also the head of Indonesia’s Covid-19 Task Force.

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“But most importantly, we should stand together in dealing with disasters, as the true measure of success [in relief efforts] and minimizing loss of life is by ensuring that nobody is left behind.”

Doni also encouraged his ASEAN counterparts to participate in the 7th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) that will be held in Bali on May 2022.

To date, Indonesia has more than 522,581 Covid-19 cases. 437,456 of them recovered from the coronavirus, while 16,521 died of the disease. 

(Writer: Fitria Chusna Farisa | Editor: Diamanty Meiliana)

Source: 

https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/11/27/15224891/indonesia-ajak-menteri-dan-pejabat-asean-kerja-sama-atasi-pandemi.