Pacific HADR Coordination

The following exchange took place during the "Navigating 'Flexible, Responsive, and Respectful' Security Cooperation in the Pacific Islands" workshop held at the esteemed Australian National University (ANU).

ANU, renowned for its commitment to academic excellence and global collaboration, provided the ideal backdrop for this significant gathering of experts and stakeholders. The workshop, centered on the pressing issues of security cooperation in the Pacific Islands, underscored the vital importance of academic institutions like ANU in facilitating constructive dialogues and fostering innovative solutions to regional challenges.

This exchange within the workshop context reflects the dedication of ANU and its participants to advancing knowledge, understanding, and cooperative efforts for a more secure and resilient Pacific region.

Booth also proposed a non-competitive Pacific Island Forum Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (PIF HADR) coordination centre under a regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) doctrine, wherein the initiatives and agreements do not reflect the interests of great powers but the security interests of Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) affected by disasters.

This independent regional centre could complement Fiji's Blackrock Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Camp by jointly hosting exercises and implementing HADR mandates from the South West Defence Ministers' Meeting.

Booth suggested that a Pacific-led centre could host exercises and workshops for military, police, civil society, and civilian elements between PICTs and partners. Notably, a proposed HADR regional centre is under discussion as part of the 2050 Strategy review of regional architecture.

The Pacific region has faced a staggering array of challenges in recent years, as evidenced by the sobering statistics provided by the United Nations. In a span of time, the region recorded a staggering 1,407 disasters, a daunting number that speaks to the region's vulnerability to a wide range of natural hazards. These disasters had far-reaching consequences, resulting in a heartbreaking toll of 65,391 lives lost, leaving communities devastated and grieving.

However, the impact wasn't limited to human tragedy alone. The economic losses incurred were monumental, amounting to a staggering $163.7 billion. This figure underscores the severe economic consequences of these disasters, which not only affect individual livelihoods but also have a lasting impact on the overall economic stability and development of the affected countries.