Dubai Humanitarian & AHA Centre Bolster Disaster Response

In a significant step toward strengthening regional disaster response, Dubai Humanitarian and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) signed a Letter of Intent today in Siem Reap. This partnership marks a major advance in collaborative humanitarian efforts across Southeast Asia.

Building a Foundation for Regional Resilience

The newly signed agreement lays the groundwork for long-term cooperation between Dubai Humanitarian and the AHA Centre. Together, they aim to enhance emergency preparedness and response strategies for ASEAN Member States facing natural disasters and humanitarian crises. The collaboration reflects a mutual goal: to build more agile, sustainable, and resilient systems capable of addressing the growing challenges in one of the most disaster-prone regions of the world.

Strengthening Humanitarian Logistics and Emergency Operations

A key focus of the agreement is joint action in humanitarian logistics and crisis relief. The partnership will support coordinated relief deployments, facilitate the loan of essential aid supplies, and contribute to the AHA Centre’s Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN (DELSA). Additionally, the collaboration encourages innovation in the humanitarian supply chain to improve the speed, efficiency, and sustainability of relief efforts.

Shedding light on the signing, Giuseppe Saba, CEO and Board Member of Dubai Humanitarian, said: “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.”

Promoting Knowledge Exchange and Regional Capacity Building

Dubai Humanitarian and the AHA Centre also plan to drive progress through shared learning and outreach. The agreement outlines efforts to exchange best practices in sustainability, operational excellence, and carbon reduction. It supports co-organising training initiatives and symposiums aimed at empowering local communities and professionals, while also fostering cooperation between the public and private sectors. A strong emphasis will be placed on joint public engagement, awareness campaigns, and participation in humanitarian forums to advocate for a united global response system.

Advancing ASEAN’s Vision Through Global Collaboration

The AHA Centre has expressed strong enthusiasm for partnering with Dubai Humanitarian, a globally recognized hub for humanitarian logistics and coordination. This alliance supports the AHA Centre’s mission to strengthen ASEAN’s collective ability to respond swiftly and effectively to disasters. By working together, both organizations aim to enhance regional capabilities in emergency planning, information sharing, innovation, and disaster resilience.

Executive Director of the AHA Centre, Mr. Lee Yam Ming, highlighted the importance of this collaboration for ASEAN to strengthen disaster management in the region. “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.