S'PORE, BRUNEI CO-HOST 2ND ASEAN DISASTER RELIEF EXERCISE

Troops from the 10 ASEAN countries gathered in Brunei for the 2nd edition of the ASEAN Militaries' Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise on 16 Jun. Singapore and Brunei were the co-hosts of the exercise also known as the AHX.

At the opening ceremony of the one-day exercise, co-chairman of the 2nd AHX, Brigadier-General (BG) Ngien Hoon Ping from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) explained why the exercise was important.

"Our region is prone to natural disasters," said the SAF's Director of Joint Operations. The typhoons, floods, earthquakes and tsunamis that this region has experienced "have shown how difficult it is for a single country, no matter how big, to muster all its resources and capabilities necessary to attend to the needs of the disaster victims".

Stressing that armed forces have a crucial role to play in disaster relief and rescue operations, BG Ngien, said: "An effective system to coordinate efforts across all aid agencies would need to be worked out and validated through joint military exercises such as the AHX."

The other co-chairman of the exercise, Joint Force Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz Bin Haji Mohd Tamit, added: "I am confident that the concept and objectives planned for this 2nd AHX will enable us to further strengthen our practical cooperation and enrich the experiences of sharing the best practices and lessons learnt from HADR operations in the past."

During the 2nd AHX, about 100 participants learnt how different countries managed HADR missions. They also practised dealing with disasters and planning rescue missions together in the table-top exercise.

One participant, Colonel (COL) Yuli Subiakto, the Sub-director of human resources of health in the Directorate of Health, Ministry of Defence, Indonesia, said that the exercise was a useful learning platform: "We learnt how to coordinate better with other countries...and I hope to bring home some of the good practices and get them implemented in my country."

Major-General (MG) Wittaya Wachirakul, Director at the Joint and Combined Exercise Planning Office in the Royal Thai Armed Forces, added: "This was also a great opportunity to get contacts from other countries, to get to know people who have experience in HADR operations."

SAF participant Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Lim Hock Chye, Chief of Staff, Peace Support Operations, Naval Operations Department, summed it up: "This AHX is a demonstration of the step that ASEAN nations have taken to collaborate at the operational level."

"What's important is that we're able to embrace and take advantage of the diversity, capabilities and perspectives that each nation can offer to solve a problem."

He also said: "Although we don't face natural disasters in Singapore, as a member of ASEAN, it's important that we can contribute as well, because it's about helping one another when disaster hits."

The SAF's Chief of Defence Force MG Ng Chee Meng and Commander of RBAF MG Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin officiated at the closing ceremony of the exercise.

Singapore and Indonesia co-hosted the first AHX in 2011, with different phases of the exercise conducted in both countries.