Local planners and officials attended a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) conference alongside Pacific Partnership 2019 (PP19) personnel at Sarawak State Library, April 1.

The conference enabled civilian and military officials to discuss policies and procedures for responding to natural disasters and emergencies. These engagements are an essential part of preparation to respond effectively to crises in Malaysia and the Indo-Pacific region.

“It’s not just about the policies or the procedures; it’s about the best ways we can work together during a crisis,” said Nur Ain Muhammad Yusuf, a director with the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA). “One day, we may have to respond to a disaster, so it’s important we’re able to adopt new knowledge to adapt to different circumstances.”

The event brought together personnel from the U.S. and Malaysian Armed Forces as well as various civilian emergency response organizations. They also participated in group activities as well as discussions about risks and available resources associated with various types of potential disasters. 

“Our Malaysian counterparts have been eager to share their knowledge and preparation techniques with us,” said U.S. Army Capt. Gilbert Quinto, PP19 HADR lead. “I’m looking forward to the field training exercise and seeing how that improves our interoperability and disaster preparedness.”

PP19 HADR events in Malaysia culminate with a field training exercise that challenges participants from multiple lines of effort to respond to a simulated disaster relief scenario. Conducting annual missions and having the opportunity for real-world application builds confidence for executing effective crisis response.  

Pacific Partnership, now in its 14th iteration, is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Each year, the mission team works collectively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase stability and security in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships across the Indo-Pacific.

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