Bangkok, Thailand, 5 June 2024 - The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) welcomed a delegation from the Maldives National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), accompanied by representatives from the Maldivian Red Crescent, Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure, and the Maldives Meteorological Service. This visit marked the beginning of a World Bank-supported study tour aimed at enhancing emergency operations in the Maldives through peer-to-peer knowledge exchange on emergency operations centers (EOCs). The Maldives delegation visited Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

In his welcome address, Mr. Hans Guttman, Executive Director of ADPC, emphasized the urgent need to address both immediate and long-term climate change challenges through community preparedness and anticipatory action. He highlighted the importance of investment in disaster risk reduction (DRR) for the safety and stability of the Maldives.

Mr. Umar Moosa Fikry, Deputy Chief Executive of the Maldives NDMA, outlined the delegation’s goal to learn from international best practices to establish a national EOC in the Maldives. He stressed the urgent need to integrate DRR into national planning, improve risk information systems, and enhance the country’s response to increasing hydrometeorological events exacerbated by climate change.

Mr. Dustin Shiau, Regional Humanitarian Advisor at the United States Agency for International Development Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID BHA), commended the Maldives NDMA for its leadership in disaster management in the country and emphasized the importance of preparedness and collective solutions.

Following their visit to ADPC, the Maldivian delegation continued their study tour in Indonesia, visiting EOCs and institutions such as the NDMA of Indonesia, the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centre), the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics, and the Indonesian Red Cross. In the Philippines, the group learned about emergency response mechanisms, identified gaps, and improved strategies by visiting the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the Paranaque City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), which operates the region’s first private sector-led EOC.

ADPC's support in coordinating the study tour was part of its commitment to regional knowledge exchange and enhancing disaster preparedness and resilience in the Maldives under the Strengthening Preparedness and Resilience through Inclusive Community Governance in the Maldives (SPRING) program, supported by USAID BHA. This initiative, in collaboration with the Maldivian Red Crescent, the Maldives NDMA, and other stakeholders, aims to bolster community resilience against disasters by promoting inclusive governance and integrating disaster preparedness into community development.