New Delhi: The ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) held a commemoration ceremony in Phang Nga, Thailand, on December 26-27 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami. The event, hosted by Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), was formally opened by Thailand’s Deputy Minister of Interior, Sabeeda Thaised. The opening ceremony also included pre-recorded remarks from ASEAN’s Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (DSG ASCC), San Lwin, who emphasized the resilience of the affected communities and the solidarity of ASEAN, the organisation’s press release stated.
The commemoration served as a platform for ASEAN to reflect on its progress in disaster resilience over the two decades since the tsunami. The event highlighted how the tragedy has reshaped and strengthened disaster management practices across the region.
ACDM Chair Col (R) Muhd Harrith Rashidi Bin Haji Muhd. gave remarks. Jamin, Director of the National Disaster Management Centre at Brunei Darussalam’s Ministry of Home Affairs, emphasized the progress ASEAN has made since the tsunami.
The commemoration in Phang Nga included academic seminars focusing on themes such as early warning systems, public health emergencies, research and innovation, inclusive resilience, and making cities more resilient. The event also included a site visit to the Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Memorial Park, the Ban Nam Khem community, and the tsunami museum. The site visit showcased Thailand’s improvements in disaster preparedness at the national, provincial, and community levels, including the development of a tsunami early warning system, evacuation routes, and community-level preparedness measures.
As part of the commemoration, the ASEAN Secretariat issued a special Issue of the ASEAN Magazine No. 39–40 on “20 Years Since the Indian Ocean Tsunami”, and a short video. The event was the final part of a series of commemorative events held throughout 2024 in Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, and Malaysia. ASEAN Ministers-in-Charge of Disaster Management adopted a statement at the commemoration, emphasizing their commitment to strengthening cooperation and collaboration for tsunami preparedness and post-disaster recovery initiatives.
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