The ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) has entered into force, after getting ratification from all ten member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

AADMER is the region’s response to the need to establish a regional disaster management framework.

It contains provisions on disaster risk identification, monitoring and early warning, prevention and mitigation, preparedness and response, rehabilitation, technical cooperation and research, mechanisms for coordination, and simplified customs and immigration procedures.

AADMER also provides for the establishment of an ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) to undertake operational coordination of activities under the Agreement.

Welcoming the agreement’s launch on Dec. 24, ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan, said that AADMER is one of the fastest-negotiated agreements in ASEAN’s history, having gone through a mere four months of negotiations.

The entry into force of AADMER is a remarkable progress for ASEAN in its joint effort in responding to disasters happening in the region and in reducing disaster risks more effectively, he added.

AADMER was signed by ASEAN Foreign Ministers in July 2005. Since then, ASEAN has put in place measures to implement many provisions under the Agreement./.