The Path to Sustainable Resilience

The year 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, one of the most catastrophic events we have ever experienced, and the 35th anniversary of establishing the ASEAN-ROK dialogue. This occasion provides a valuable opportunity to reflect on our collaborative efforts to overcome severe crises and to reaffirm our commitment to shared prosperity.

I first visited Aceh in early 2005 while working at the United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Kobe. I was shocked by the sight of the entire landscape, buildings, and houses swept away by the tsunami. It was even more heartbreaking to witness the traces of people’s lives, knowing that they were gone and that their lives had been lost. A few months later, I was posted to Aceh to work with the UN Office for the Recovery Coordinator for Aceh and Nias (UNORC). Af

It has been two decades since the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, but the progress made in disaster resilience and the profound lessons learned have endured. The unprecedented disaster led to marked improvements in disaster risk reduction and management systems, policies, and institutions in the most affected countries. It served as a wake-up call to the international community, facilitating global agreements, bringing changes in humanitarian operations, and ushering in resilience as a publ

The Haiyan disaster Ten years ago, on 8 November 2013, Supertyphoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda) barreled through the central region of the Philippines. The cyclone was one of the most powerful to make landfall in recorded history, killing thousands and leaving communities in ruins. Storm surges were primarily responsible for the 6,300 dead, 1,062 missing, and 28,688 injured in Haiyan’s wake.

The ASEAN region is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. According to the ASEAN State of Climate Change Report (2021), the ASEAN region faces escalating consequences of climate change, including rising temperatures, more frequent extreme weather events, and rising sea levels.

Many disasters may be inevitable as the forces of nature are increasingly becoming unpredictable and destructive. However, their adverse impacts can be reduced through effective collaboration, preparedness, and response. The value of such cooperation cannot be overstated. ASEAN, a region vulnerable to various natural and human-induced disasters, has been working with various partners to enhance its capacity and cooperation. One of the key partners in this endeavour is Japan, which established th

The 2004 tsunami devastated coastal communities across Southeast and South Asia—including ASEAN Member States Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand—with unprecedented force. The disaster sent shockwaves across the region and left a profound mark on ASEAN, highlighting the urgent need for improved disaster monitoring, preparedness, and response.

The 9.1 magnitude earthquake triggered a mega-tsunami on 26 December 2004 that devastated almost the entire coastal area of Aceh province of Indonesia and killed over 200,000 people across various places in and around the Indian Ocean. The depth of this devastation is beyond our imagination, and the majority of deaths recorded were in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, and Maldives. Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, and nine other nations faced significant losses of lives and coastal as

In the first week of September 2024, the ASEAN region was hit by 20 significant disasters caused by natural hazards, including floods, storms, and landslides. These events caused massive devastation, affecting 2.83 million people and claiming 46 lives. Unfortunately, this week was not an outlier. Each week, thousands—sometimes millions—across Southeast Asia face the impacts of natural disasters.

The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history. As we mark the commemoration of its 20th anniversary this year, it is essential to reflect on the progress made in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and the lessons learned—particularly DRR efforts with and for the most at-risk populations, such as people with disabilities. The devastating events of 2004 exposed the critical need to address the unique challenges faced by people with disabilit

On 11 October 2024, Ekkaphab Phanthavong officially completes his tenure as the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. Before assuming his role at the ASEAN Secretariat, he was the Ambassador/Permanent Representative of the Lao PDR to ASEAN from 2018 to 2021. Prior to that, he served numerous appointments at the Lao PDR Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including as Deputy Director-General of the ASEAN Department. In this issue of The ASEAN, Deputy Secretary-General

On the morning of 26 December 2004, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake struck, triggering one of the most devastating tsunamis in Asia. My hometown, Aceh, Indonesia was among the hardest hit, and the destruction was beyond anything I could have ever imagined. The tsunami destroyed not only physical structures but also left deep emotional and psychological scars on the survivors, including myself and my community.

On 26 December 2004, Andi Azhar Rusdin was a high school student who loved math and physics. Like many others, he was shocked by the tragic news of the Aceh tsunami unfolding that day.

Fifty-five-year-old Agus Nur Amal PM Toh is an Acehnese traditional storytelling artist. His love for the arts began in his hometown of Sabang on Weh Island, Aceh, the westernmost island in Indonesia. It is in a theatre’s spectator seats where he discovered and became mesmerised by the magical worlds created by actors and crews of travelling performers. As a child, the beautiful set made from old drums and planks stole his attention.