PRESS RELEASES

Ambassador Aiboshi’s visit to AHA Centre and attendance of the Memorial Event for Great East Japan Earthquake

14 March 2014

On 11th March, H.E. Mr. Koichi Aiboshi, Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN, visited ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) and exchanged views with Mr. Said Faisal, Executive Director of AHA Centre, on Japan-ASEAN cooperation on disaster management. After the discussion, Ambassador Aiboshi observed AHA Centre’s facilities, especially the ICT system which was procured with the assistance of Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF). Ambassador Aiboshi also attended the memorial event of Great East Japan Earthquake hosted by AHA Centre together with officials from the Mission of Japan and the staff of AHA Centre. For one minute from 12:46, which is the exact time when the earthquake occurred three years ago, they observed a moment of silence in remembrance of victims of the Great Earthquake.

【Ref.1】 AHA Center (ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management) was established in November 2011 by ASEAN for the purpose of facilitating cooperation and coordination among ASEAN Member States and with relevant international organizations such as the United Nations in the field of disaster management.

【Ref.2】 Japan’s assistance to ASEAN in the field of disaster management
Japan attaches great importance to its assistance to ASEAN in the field of disaster management. Japan has assisted AHA Centre for its establishment under the project “Study on the establishment and operationalisation of the AHA Centre” (USD 300,000), for development of its ICT system under the project “Establishment of an integrated Information and Communication Technology to strengthen the operation of AHA Centre-Phase I” (USD 1.6 million). “Establishment of an integrated Information and Communication Technology System to strengthen the operation of ASEAN Coordination Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) – Phase2” (USD4.9million ). Japan has also helped ASEAN establish “Disaster Emergency Logistic System in ASEAN” (USD 12 million) in December 2012 in which disaster relief items are stockpiled in and transported from the warehouse established in UNHRD depot in Subang, Malaysia. In order to train future leaders for disaster management in ASEAN region, AHA Centre Executive (ACE) program, the six-month-long training program with the participation of two experts from each National Disaster Management Organization in every ASEAN Member State, has been established. The first batch of the program started in this January with thirteen experts from seven ASEAN Member States.