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The Asia-Pacific region comprises 52% of the earth's surface area, 59% of the world's population, and over 70% of the world's natural disasters. APEC Economic Leaders have acknowledged that unexpected disasters which affect one member economy can affect all of member economies, and that APEC members can benefit by sharing expertise and collaborating on emergency preparedness and response.
As an immediate response to the Indian Ocean Tsunami which struck in December 2004, and to collectively prepare for future natural disasters, APEC Senior Officials adopted an APEC Strategy on Response to and Preparedness for Natural Disasters and Emergencies. The Senior Officials specifically called for the establishment of a Virtual Task Force for Emergency Preparedness (VTFEP). The Task Force was later renamed as the Task Force for Emergency Preparedness (TFEP).
APEC member economies agreed that in facing natural disasters as devastating as the Indian Ocean Tsunami, APEC should leverage its strengths of multi-sectoral participation, private-sector partnerships, broad regional reach, and high-level political commitment to meet the needs of the region and bring real, lasting benefits to the affected economies as well as the region at large. APEC can play a constructive role in enabling the region to better prepare for future emergencies and natural disasters of all kinds, and can address long-term commercial recovery in affected sectors.
Achievements
In September 2007, Leaders of APEC member economies agreed on the need to further strengthen APEC's efforts to build community resilience and preparedness for emergencies and natural disasters at the Sydney APEC Economic Leaders' meeting.
The TFEP made steady progress in coordinating APEC activities for emergency preparedness. On 7-8 June 2006, a desk-top pandemic response simulation exercise took place in Singapore. It was the first step in ensuring preparedness across APEC economies for responding to emergencies such as avian and pandemic influenza. A post-exercise seminar to share outcomes of the exercise among APEC members was held in August 2006.
In November 2005, APEC Leaders put themselves squarely behind the APEC Strategy on Response to and Preparedness for Natural Disasters and Emergencies. They agreed on collective, practical measures for emergency preparedness which include: - Strengthening cooperation and technical assistance among APEC economies to limit avian influenza at its source and prevent human outbreaks;
- Developing a list of available and funded regional experts and capabilities for responding rapidly to pandemic influenza in its early stages;
- Testing pandemic preparedness;
- Enhancing public and business outreach and risk communication; and
- Exchanging information on border screening procedures and controls to increase transparency and to reduce risk to trade and travelers.
The TFEP collaborates closely with the Health Task Force (HTF) and other APEC fora. In implementing the Strategy, APEC fora report activities which have assisted member economies to prepare for disasters and emergencies, and they coordinate collective efforts to help members be better prepared for the next natural disasters and emergencies.
Current activities
The TFEP's mandate was extended for another year at first Senior Officials' Meeting in 2007. The extension will allow the group to re-focus and reinvigorate its work and to ensure ongoing and effective coordination of emergency preparedness work across APEC.
In order to provide direction and coordinate work across APEC by bringing together disaster and emergency management experts from APEC members, an APEC 2007 Senior Disaster Management Coordinator Seminar and TFEP meeting was held on 20-23 August 2007 in Cairns, Australia. In the Seminar, representatives from 13 APEC economies and international organizations, including the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies, the World Food Program, the Pacific Disaster Center, Hawaii, the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, and the Center of Excellence for Humanitarian Response, unanimously agreed to support a 3-5 year better focused TFEP strategic plan taking into account the human and political imperative for more effective emergency preparedness and risk reduction, as well as more timely and effective disaster response.
In the TFEP meeting, delegates from member economies endorsed the proposal from Viet Nam for a 2008 dialogue with economies, private sector representatives and key regional and international partners on emergency preparedness and risk reduction. Endorsement was also given to a project which includes a training course and study tour in China in April 2008.
Task Force for Emergency Preparedness (TFEP) - Key Contacts
Co-Chair of TFEP
Mr Alan March
AusAID Humanitarian Coordinator
Tel: (61-26) 206 4000
Email: alan.march@ausaid.gov.au
Co-Chair of TFEP
Mr. Tabrani
Deputy for Emergency Management
Indonesia National Coordinating Board for Disaster Management
Jln. Ir. Juanda no. 36
Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia
Telp. +62-21 3504983
Fax. +62-21 350 4983
Email: tabrani@bakornaspbp.go.id
APEC Secretariat
Mr Vincent Liu
Director (Program)
E-mail: jyl@apec.org
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