Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer has welcomed the hosting by Indonesia and Australia of a desk-top exercise to enhance multinational disaster relief responses in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Australian embassy said here on Wednesday the two-day exercise commencing on Thursday aims to improve the speed and effectiveness of multinational, civil and military disaster response capabilities between the 27 participants of the ASEAN Regional Forum and will involve a range of government agencies and regional aid bodies.
Australia`s Minister for Defence Joel Fitzgibbon was quoted by the embassy as saying the initiative built on the valuable contributions the Australian Defence Force had made in regional disaster relief efforts and highlighted Australia`s commitment to its regional partners.
The last few years had seen an increase in multinational responses to regional disasters - most notably the successful international effort in responding to the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. It was important that the region works together to further improve and coordinate their efforts, Fitzgibbon said according to the embassy
"Holding the exercise in Jakarta also ensures regional countries gain maximum benefit from the lessons learned and experience of the Indonesian government and Armed Forces in responding to a range of natural disasters," he said.
"The exercise is an important step in coordinating expertise from across the region and focuses a very broad bank of resources to the critical task of rendering assistance to those who need it most during a natural disaster."
The exercise - a regional cooperation activity conducted through the ASEAN Regional Forum - is to be held at the Indonesian Naval Command and Staff College in Jakarta on May 1-2, 2008.
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The Australian embassy said here on Wednesday the two-day exercise commencing on Thursday aims to improve the speed and effectiveness of multinational, civil and military disaster response capabilities between the 27 participants of the ASEAN Regional Forum and will involve a range of government agencies and regional aid bodies.
Australia`s Minister for Defence Joel Fitzgibbon was quoted by the embassy as saying the initiative built on the valuable contributions the Australian Defence Force had made in regional disaster relief efforts and highlighted Australia`s commitment to its regional partners.
The last few years had seen an increase in multinational responses to regional disasters - most notably the successful international effort in responding to the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. It was important that the region works together to further improve and coordinate their efforts, Fitzgibbon said according to the embassy
"Holding the exercise in Jakarta also ensures regional countries gain maximum benefit from the lessons learned and experience of the Indonesian government and Armed Forces in responding to a range of natural disasters," he said.
"The exercise is an important step in coordinating expertise from across the region and focuses a very broad bank of resources to the critical task of rendering assistance to those who need it most during a natural disaster."
The exercise - a regional cooperation activity conducted through the ASEAN Regional Forum - is to be held at the Indonesian Naval Command and Staff College in Jakarta on May 1-2, 2008.
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