KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Coordination among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is more important than ever to ensure rapid humanitarian relief and disaster response efforts, speakers at a forum here said on Monday.
The increasing frequency of natural disasters, climate emergencies and the sudden outbreak of conflicts requires foresight, compassion and a strong commitment to mitigate human suffering and aid recovery efforts in order to contain the effects of such disasters and ensure sustainable and dignified growth, according to speakers at the inaugural Southeast Asia Red Cross Red Crescent Humanitarian Forum.
Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz, national chairperson of the Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC), said the convening of the forum is timely, with Malaysia, as the current ASEAN chair, providing an opportunity to help shape ASEAN's humanitarian agenda and strengthen regional capacities.
"Southeast Asia is no stranger to humanitarian pressures. From floods, earthquakes, and landslides to disease outbreaks, conflict and displacement, the impact on health, livelihoods, and food security is profound," she said in her welcoming address.
"Rising costs of food and energy further heighten community vulnerability, while the far-reaching effects of climate change intensify these interlinked crises. No single organization or government can address them alone. They demand partnership built on trust, solidarity and mutual respect," she said, adding that the organization and its affiliates will keep focus on its mission to save lives, alleviate suffering, uphold human dignity and prepare for future challenges.
Regis Savioz, regional director for the Asia-Pacific International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said conflicts at present are ever more complex, more fragmented, often protracted and increasingly marked by state-on-state confrontation, with humanitarian workers being frequently caught in the crossfire.
Regis said that in the face of these challenges, China, Brazil, France, Jordan, Kazakhstan and South Africa have taken the lead, coming together with the ICRC to launch the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law (Global IHL Initiative), with 89 states having signed up for the initiative, including several from ASEAN.
"The aim is simple but urgent -- to galvanize renewed political commitment to international humanitarian law, to remind all parties that even wars have limits, and that civilians must never be abandoned to unchecked suffering," he said.
Meanwhile, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) regional director for Asia-Pacific Alexander Matheou noted that of the 20 to 30 biggest natural and humanitarian disasters worldwide, Asia continues to be particularly hard hit, especially in states like Afghanistan, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
He urged countries that are able to contribute to disaster preparedness to do so, as this will enable the efficient use of resources and a timely response when disasters strike.
"In Southeast Asia alone, disasters cause over 86 billion U.S. dollars in losses each year, underscoring the urgent need to prepare before crises occur. The IFRC and our National Societies are scaling up preparedness to ensure faster, more effective responses. Our goal is clear, (to) protect lives and livelihoods before disaster strikes. Every dollar invested in preparedness saves many times more in response costs," he said.
The one-day forum brings together over 150 delegates to address the escalating humanitarian challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region, which accounted for more than half of the 45.8 million people displaced by 559 disasters in 2024. ■