Dubai Humanitarian and the ASEAN AHA Centre sign Letter of Intent to boost disaster preparedness and emergency response across Southeast Asia.
Dubai: In a significant move to reinforce ASEAN disaster response, Dubai Humanitarian and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) signed a Letter of Intent on 26 May 2025 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The partnership lays the groundwork for strategic collaboration aimed at improving emergency preparedness and crisis relief efforts across Southeast Asia, one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions.
This cooperation reflects a joint vision of creating resilient, agile, and sustainable humanitarian systems that can respond more effectively to the increasing frequency and complexity of natural and man-made disasters.
The Letter of Intent sets out a collaborative framework with two key pillars:
1. Humanitarian Logistics and Crisis Relief Solutions
Dubai Humanitarian and the AHA Centre will coordinate relief operations and explore the loan of vital relief items, including supporting DELSA (Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN). They will also collaborate on innovative solutions in humanitarian logistics to boost efficiency and sustainability in regional emergency response.
2. Knowledge Sharing and Outreach
The partnership will promote the exchange of best practices in sustainability, carbon reduction, and crisis management. Co-hosted training sessions, symposiums, and public awareness campaigns will strengthen local capacities, ensure cross-sector knowledge transfer, and foster regional collaboration.
Giuseppe Saba, CEO of Dubai Humanitarian, highlighted the importance of smarter, collaborative approaches in disaster response, stating, “This agreement is not just about delivering aid faster but doing it better—co-creating localised solutions that reduce vulnerabilities and adapt to evolving risks.”
Lee Yam Ming, Executive Director of the AHA Centre, emphasised the milestone nature of the collaboration, describing it as the Centre’s first formal partnership with a Middle Eastern organisation. “It aligns with our vision of ‘One ASEAN, One Response,’ reinforcing the goal of a united, disaster-resilient ASEAN region,” he noted.
This alliance between Dubai Humanitarian and the AHA Centre marks a transformative step in expanding global humanitarian networks, enhancing regional synergy, and reinforcing rapid, coordinated, and resilient disaster responses in Southeast Asia.
