Dubai Humanitarian Partners With ASEAN’s AHA Centre To Enhance Disaster Response Efforts

A significant step was taken in Siem Reap, Cambodia, as Dubai Humanitarian and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) signed a Letter of Intent. This agreement aims to enhance joint humanitarian efforts across Southeast Asia, focusing on improving emergency preparedness and response in ASEAN Member States affected by natural disasters and other crises.

The collaboration is structured around two main pillars: humanitarian logistics and crisis relief solutions, and knowledge sharing and outreach. The partnership will streamline relief operations, facilitate the loan of essential relief items, and support the AHA Centre’s Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN (DELSA). Additionally, it aims to drive innovation in the humanitarian supply chain to boost efficiency and sustainability.

Both organisations are committed to exchanging best practices in sustainability, carbon reduction, and operational excellence. They plan to co-host training programs and symposiums to improve local response capabilities. The agreement also includes joint visibility efforts such as public awareness campaigns and participation in regional humanitarian events to foster collaboration for a Global Safety Net.

Giuseppe Saba, CEO of Dubai Humanitarian, emphasised the importance of this partnership: "What we’re witnessing across the world, and especially in regions like Southeast Asia, is a growing frequency and complexity of disasters that demand not just faster responses, but smarter, more collaborative ones. This partnership with the AHA Centre is rooted in that understanding. It reflects our responsibility as a global humanitarian hub to not only deliver aid but to co-create solutions that build local capacity, reduce vulnerability, and adapt to evolving risks. This Letter of Intent is a testament to the kind of forward-thinking cooperation the humanitarian sector needs more of."

The AHA Centre values this collaboration with Dubai Humanitarian due to its international recognition in humanitarian coordination and logistics. This partnership aligns with their vision of creating a well-connected ASEAN community capable of swift disaster response. Through this cooperation, both entities aim for enhanced synergy in emergency preparedness, disaster information dissemination, capacity building, and regional innovation.

Lee Yam Ming, Executive Director of the AHA Centre, highlighted the significance of this collaboration: "This partnership with Dubai Humanitarian marks an exciting milestone for the AHA Centre as it is our first formal collaboration with a Middle Eastern organisation in the field of disaster management. It reflects our shared commitment to building stronger regional and global humanitarian networks. Through this partnership, we aim to fully realise the vision of One ASEAN, One Response with a shared commitment to building a disaster-resilient ASEAN community," he added.

This agreement signifies a shared dedication towards developing resilient systems for disaster relief in one of the world's most vulnerable regions. By joining forces, both organisations hope to create sustainable solutions that address evolving risks while enhancing local capacities.

With inputs from WAM