The Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami of 2004 killed almost a quarter of a million people across a dozen countries, with the death toll in Indonesia alone exceeding 200,000. Just months prior to the catastrophic event, the (PDC) and a Southeast Asian regional committee on disaster management had agreed to begin collaboration on technology for early warning and disaster monitoring.
Following more than a decade of working together to enhance disaster management capacities in the Southeast Asia region, the -managed PDC and the , signed an official memorandum of intent in June 2017. The memorandum aims to strengthen the two centers’ ongoing partnership in advancing disaster risk reduction and regional cooperation, including steps to advance the vision of “One ASEAN, One Response.”
“Today, we are proud of our 13 year-old collaboration and partnership to enhance early warning, disaster management and humanitarian assistance capabilities in the region. At this signing, we are thankful and filled with hope and inspiration to continue working with our most valued partners to advance a worthy cause for all people in the region,” said , PDC executive director.
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