Asian Disaster Preparedness Center’s contributions to strengthening community resilience in Thailand were recognized at the One ASEAN, One Response & ASEAN Resilience Symposium in Bangkok on 10–11 September 2015. The symposium served as an opportunity for ADPC to present and launch the Empowering Communities & Strengthening Resilience – Thailand publication, a comprehensive documentation of community resilience programs and projects carried out by ADPC and its partners.

Presenting the publication at the event, ADPC’s Special Advisor Dr. Bhichit Rattakul cited the significance of major disasters such the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004 and the Thailand Flooding of 2011 in shaping both national and regional approaches for strengthening disaster resilience.


The speakers of the symposium received a token of recognition from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

Dr. Rattakul highlighted the role of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation of Thailand and ADPC as pioneers in utilizing community-based disaster risk reduction to empower communities in risk-prone areas to be better prepared for hazards including flooding, drought, landslides and earthquakes as well as tsunamis.

The Empowering Communities & Strengthening Resilience – Thailand publication covers a number of community resilience-building initiatives implemented by ADPC and its partners, including community preparedness for response, school safety, disaster-ready health facilities and private sector engagement in disaster risk reduction.

One ASEAN, One Response

The symposium was organized by the Department of Disaster Prevention & Mitigation of Thailand together with the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Secretariat and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre). The objective was to familiarize the participants with the ASEAN regional mechanisms on disaster management and introduce to them the "One ASEAN, One Response" vision, where ASEAN Member States and all relevant sectors and stakeholders in the countries will unite as one in responding to disasters.

The event provided the opportunity for various agencies to introduce their approaches and activities in improving Thailand’s ability to cope with natural hazards, including the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, the Office of Planning and Policy under the Ministry of Defence and private sector enterprises.

Documents:

Asian Disaster Preparedness Center: Empowering Communities & Strengthening Resilience – Thailand

Asian Disaster Preparedness Center: Empowering Communities & Strengthening Resilience – Thailand