Some 38 participants of the ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT) induction course were celebrated with a graduation ceremony at the Officers’ Mess Room, Fire and Rescue Hall, Jalan Airport Lama, Berakas following the completion of their nine-day course.
Minister of Home Affairs Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman presented the graduates with vests and certificates.
An annual event of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) in cooperation with the relevant ASEAN member countries as a host, the 15TH ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT ) Induction Course is hosted by Brunei Darussalam and managed by the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) as the Chairman of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management this year.
Permanent Secretary (Safety and Welfare) at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) Salminan bin Haji Burut; Deputy Permanent Secretary (Safety and Welfare) at the MoHA Nor Hamidah binti Haji Hamidon; Executive Director of the AHA Centre Lee Yam Ming; Director of the NDMC Colonel (Rtd) Muhd Harrith bin Haji Muhd Jamin were also present.
Participants comprised ASEAN member countries including Timor- Leste who took part in the course from February 26 to March 5 at a hotel in Berakas.
Meanwhile, the 15th AEIC Simulation Exercise, which aims to provide comprehensive disaster training and lasted 52 hours from March 3 to 6, took place at the Fire and Rescue multi-purpose hall and the NDMC building.
The course, fully supported by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), aims to recognise ASEAN citizens appointed and trained to be members of the ASEAN-ERAT, which is a team that is ready to be deployed when needed to assist and support ASEAN member countries immediately after a disaster. The team was established to support and realise One ASEAN, One Response under the ASEAN Declaration.
Facilitators include ASEAN Partners such as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), Telecom Sans Frontieres (TSF) and MapACTION.
ASEAN-ERAT members have been deployed to several countries affected by disasters since 2012, including the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 and after Tropical Storm Nalgae in 2022, and Myanmar after Tropical Cyclone Mocha in 2023.
The three main functions of ASEAN-ERAT are: to assist affected ASEAN member countries to coordinate humanitarian assistance with other agencies; to facilitate the management of the influx of the humanitarian aid; and to support the affected countries in assessing the immediate needs of disaster victims. – Lyna Mohamad
PHOTO: RAFI ROSLI 
