VietNamNet Bridge – As many as 2,500 people and 689 vehicles will take part in the 2013 ASEAN Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercise (ARDEX-13) scheduled for October 23 in Vietnam.

The information was released by the exercise’s organising board at a press conference last week.

This is the first activity to test the operational capability of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) since its establishment in November 2011.

The exercise will simulate the hypothetical scenario of Super Typhoon “Neptune”, which strikes the northern delta provinces of Viet Nam and causes large-scale flooding while ten thousand people suffering from collapsed houses and rising waters require emergency assistance.

ARDEX-13 aims to evaluate and recommend mechanisms ensuring readiness to deal with big disasters in the region, enabling the host and other participating countries to share their experiences on responding to disasters which are out of each nation’s control and need the support of international partners.

In addition to the bloc’s member countries, representatives from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, relevant agencies from the United Nations and several international organisations in Vietnam will join the event.

Relevant units will take part in the final rehearsal on October 17 and carry out a combined operation with other teams from the region one day before the official exercise.

Source: Vietnam Plus