Who doesn't remember the devastating Typhoon Haiyan that struck the Philippines in 2013? Known locally as Yolanda, Typhoon Haiyan was one of the largest natural disasters ever to hit the world.
With winds of up to 314 km/h, Yolanda devastated large parts of the Philippines, particularly the provinces of Leyte and Tacloban.
According to website USAID, Typhoon Haiyan caused at least 1,774 deaths, affected some 9.7 million people and damaged or destroyed some 23,200 homes, public infrastructure and farmland in 41 provinces.
In the midst of deep grief, the spirit of brotherhood in the Southeast Asian region shone brightly. ASEAN member states mobilised quickly to provide humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of the Filipino people.
ASEAN's Humanitarian Aid and Coordination during Typhoon Haiyan
ASEAN is known for its commitment to working together to address challenges, including natural disasters. After Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, ASEAN swiftly mobilized solidarity among its member countries to support the recovery of affected areas. This assistance included logistics, medical personnel, and funding to meet the urgent needs of the victims.
ASEAN, through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre), coordinated humanitarian assistance to meet the immediate needs of victims. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has prepared US$500,000 worth of assistance for victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.
Indonesia responded quickly to the Typhoon Haiyan disaster in the Philippines. The Indonesian government sent 75 tonnes of logistical aid, including 10 tonnes of ready-to-eat food, medicines worth IDR 500 million and 5,000 blankets.
In addition, the Indonesian Red Cross deployed the cargo ship KM Emir with 50 tonnes of rice, 20,000 litres of clean water and medical equipment.
Meanwhile, Malaysia also contributed by sending 3.2 billion Malaysian ringgit in cash and logistical support. These supplies, which included food, medicine, clothing and tents, reached affected areas such as Tacloban, giving hope to thousands of victims who had lost everything.
Thailand also contributed to the relief efforts following Typhoon Haiyan. As a neighbouring country with a good healthcare system, Thailand sent 40 medical personnel and medical equipment worth 20 million baht to provide direct care to the victims in the Philippines.
This demonstrates Thailand's concern for its ASEAN neighbours and its commitment to helping disaster-stricken communities.
Military and Logistical Contributions from ASEAN Countries
In addition to civilian assistance, ASEAN countries also mobilised military resources to speed up the response to the disaster. Singapore, for example, sent a C-130 transport aircraft to deliver humanitarian aid to hard-to-reach areas.
Thailand also sent medical aircraft and equipment to provide emergency treatment to victims. In addition, Indonesia sent three C-130 aircraft and donated USD 2 million to support emergency relief efforts.
Coordinated by the AHA Centre, this military assistance proved highly effective in reaching hard-to-reach areas and providing much-needed relief to victims.
International Aid and Support for Typhoon Haiyan
In addition to assistance from ASEAN countries, a number of international partner countries also provided significant support.
The United States, for example, provided US$90 million in aid and deployed a joint task force of 13,400 personnel and 66 aircraft and ships.
Japan also contributed by sending 1,000 defence personnel to set up field hospitals and distribute humanitarian aid. As a first step, 40 SDF personnel have been deployed to assist with transport and medical support, with the potential for additional personnel if needed.
This shows that disasters like Haiyan require organised global cooperation. ASEAN is not only relying on its member states, but is also working with various countries and international organisations to ensure that aid can be delivered fairly and equitably to those affected.
Challenges and lessons learned from Haiyan
Although ASEAN was able to provide substantial assistance, the initial response to Typhoon Haiyan did not go as smoothly as expected.
Delays in coordination among member states, difficulties in accessing affected areas, and a mismatch between the type of assistance needed and the assistance available were some of the obstacles encountered.
In the future, ASEAN needs to establish a faster and more efficient disaster response system by setting up a regional disaster response team on standby. Additionally, it should focus on developing a sophisticated early warning system and enhancing regional logistics capacity to ensure effective disaster management.
In addition, regular joint exercises should be conducted to improve preparedness and coordination among member states.
While this success is an important milestone, it is also a reminder that many challenges lie ahead. Increasingly extreme climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of natural disasters.
ASEAN must therefore continue to build its capacity and strengthen cooperation with partner countries to build a safer and more resilient future.
