The ASEAN declaration<\/p>\n
We, the Heads of State\/Government, Special Envoys and Heads of
\nregional as well as international organizations, who gathered
\nhere on Jan. 6, 2005 in Jakarta, Indonesia, expressed solemnly
\nour profound sorrow and our solidarity to overcome the
\nunprecedented catastrophe befalling the Indian Ocean rim
\ncountries on Dec. 26, 2004.<\/p>\n
This unprecedented devastation needs unprecedented global
\nresponse in assisting the national governments to cope with such
\ndisaster. This would entail efforts in emergency relief,
\nrehabilitation, and reconstruction that may take five to ten
\nyears, with resources that cannot be borne by any individual
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
We deeply appreciate the generous contribution and assistance
\noffered by many countries and the overwhelming expressions of
\nsupport and assistance from governments, non-governmental
\norganizations and citizens of the world at large.<\/p>\n
We applaud the leading role of the affected countries in
\naddressing this disaster, and we recognize the role of the United
\nNations in assisting the affected countries' coordination of
\ninternational assistance at the emergency relief phase.<\/p>\n
We underlined the need to coordinate better and ensure that
\nthose contributions would be effective and sustainable, to truly
\naddress the suffering of the victims and to prevent such calamity
\nfrom recurring.<\/p>\n
We expressed our continuing commitment to assist the affected
\ncountries and their peoples in order to fully recover from the
\ncatastrophic and traumatic effects of the disaster, including in
\ntheir mid and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction
\nefforts.<\/p>\n
To these ends, we agreed to:<\/p>\n
* Emergency Relief<\/p>\n
a. Urgently mobilize further additional resources to meet the
\nemergency relief needs of victims in the affected countries.<\/p>\n
b. Request the United Nations to mobilize the international
\ncommunity to support the national relief emergency programs in
\nthe affected countries, and welcomed in this regard, the Flash
\nAppeal by the United Nations. In this connection, further request
\nthe United Nations to appoint a Special Representative of the UN
\nSecretary-General for the above purpose; to convene an
\ninternational pledging conference for the sustainability of
\nhumanitarian relief efforts; and to explore the establishment of
\n"standby arrangement" at the global level for immediate
\nhumanitarian relief efforts.<\/p>\n
c. Strengthen coordination and cooperation of the national,
\nregional and international relief efforts, to ensure effective
\nand immediate distribution of the assistance.<\/p>\n
d. Support the efforts of the affected countries, as national
\ncoordinators, to ensure an effective channeling and utilization
\nof assistance as offered by donor countries, international
\norganizations and non-governmental relief organizations.<\/p>\n
* Rehabilitation and Reconstruction<\/p>\n
a. Support and emphasize the importance of national
\nrehabilitation and reconstruction programs given the devastation
\nof the basic infrastructures and services in the affected
\ncountries. The reconstruction and rehabilitation phase should
\nlink seamlessly with the humanitarian relief efforts.<\/p>\n
b. Call on the international community, in particular the
\ndonor countries, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the
\nIslamic Development Bank, European Investment Bank, and related
\ninternational financial institutions to provide the necessary
\nfund for the viability and sustainability of those programs.<\/p>\n
c. Establish a partnership, upon the request and the
\nleadership of the country concerned, involving donor countries
\nand regional as well as international financial institutions, to
\nsupport the respective national programs of the affected
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
d. Welcome the initiative of several countries on the
\nmoratorium of payments of the external debt of the affected
\ncountries to augment their national capacity to carry out the
\nrehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.<\/p>\n
e. Promote and encourage private sector participation in and
\ncontribution to the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.<\/p>\n
* Prevention and Mitigation<\/p>\n
a. Support ASEAN's decision to establish regional mechanisms
\non disaster prevention and mitigation, inter alia:<\/p>\n
i. The utilization of military and civilian personnel in
\ndisaster relief operation and an ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance
\nCentre, as provided for in the ASEAN Security Community Plan of
\nAction;<\/p>\n
ii. ASEAN Disaster Information Sharing and Communication
\nNetwork, as provided for in the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community
\ncomponent of the Vientiane Action Program;<\/p>\n
iii. A regional instrument on disaster management and
\nemergency response.<\/p>\n
b. Establish a regional early warning system such as Regional
\nTsunami Early Warning Center on the Indian Ocean and the
\nSoutheast Asia region.<\/p>\n
c. Promote public education and awareness as well as community
\nparticipation in disaster prevention and mitigation through inter
\nalia a community based disaster preparedness and early response.<\/p>\n
d. Develop and promote national and regional human and
\ninstitutional capacity, transfer of know-how, technology, and
\nscientific knowledge in building and managing a regional early
\nwarning system and disaster management through international
\ncooperation and partnership.<\/p>\n
We believe that through concerted efforts, spurred by spirit
\nof compassion and sacrifice and endurance, together, we will
\nprevail in overcoming this catastrophe.<\/p>\n
The above article is the declaration of the special ASEAN
\nleaders's meeting on aftermath of earthquake and tsunami on
\naction to strengthen emergency relief, rehabilitation,
\nreconstruction and prevention on the aftermath of earthquake and
\ntsunami disaster of Dec. 26, 2004<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-asean-declaration-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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