Phnom penh: Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet has called on ASEAN to strengthen long-term resilience by rebuilding and developing climate-resilient infrastructure in both urban and rural areas. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 13th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management (AMMDM) and the 14th Meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP) to the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) in Phnom Penh, Samdech Thipadei emphasized the serious challenges disasters pose to nations.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, Samdech Thipadei highlighted that even small-scale disasters have lasting impacts on people and societies. He noted that the growing threats of climate change have led to more frequent, intense, and unpredictable disasters. Citing recent earthquakes, floods, and tropical cyclones that caused significant casualties and extensive damage across the region, he underscored the urgent need for action.
Samdech Thipadei, who also serves as Chairman of the National Committee for Disaster Management, stressed that ASEAN must go beyond emergency response and humanitarian relief. He urged the focus to shift towards building more resilient infrastructure and strengthening disaster management capacity. He also noted the disparities in financial, physical, and human resources among member states that need to be addressed for effective disaster preparedness.