Author: Web Desk

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ASEAN Weekly Disaster Update Week 23, 7 – 13 Jun 2021

REGIONAL SUMMARY:

A total of 7 disasters (4 floods, 2 landslides, and 1 wind-related) affected the region in the 23rd week of 2021. Indonesia and the Philippines have reportedly been affected. Several localised high-intensity rainfall, strong winds, and the overflowing of a river caused disasters in Indonesia as reported by Indonesia’s Badan Nasional Penanggulan Bencana (BNPB). In the Philippines, recurring ground shaking caused a landslide in Antique and heavy rains with strong winds caused flash floods in South Cotabato (NDRRMC).

HIGHLIGHT:

From 12-13 June, 5.05M households (19.3M persons) and $85.8B USD of capital (building and infrastructure) in Viet Nam were exposed to the effects of Tropical Depression KOGUMA (LIMITED severity) (NCHMF, DMRS). Warnings for strong wind at sea and over land as well as heavy rain and thunderstorms were issued by NCHMF.

On 11 June, a flash flood incident occurred in five (5) barangays in Tantangan, South Cotabato due to heavy rains associated with strong winds brought by monsoon trough affecting the Philippines and other areas in Mindanao (NDRRMC).

 

 

Source: ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance

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Indonesia – Floods and landslides (BNPB, ADINet, BMKG) (ECHO Daily Flash of 14 June 2021)

  • Heavy rain has affected several parts of Java Island over the past few days, causing floods, triggering landslides and leading to casualties and damage.
  • According to Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB), two people have been injured, 90 have been evacuated and 4,000 affected in Banten Province. The ASEAN Disaster Information Network (ADINet) reports 20 displaced and 500 affected people in Bandung Regency (West Java Province).
  • On 14-15 June light to moderate rain is forecast across the affected Provinces.

 

 

Source: European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

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South Korean President Says He’s Willing to Share COVID Vaccines with North 

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Monday he is willing to provide COVID-19 vaccine aid to North Korea if the isolated country agrees.

Moon made the remarks during a joint news conference with Austrian counterpart Alexander Van der Bellen following a summit meeting in Vienna on Monday.

Moon told reporters if South Korea becomes a regional hub for COVID-19 vaccine production, “North Korea will surely become one of the countries for [vaccine]  cooperation. If North Korea agrees, we will actively proceed with vaccine aid to North Korea. The U.S. government is also actively supporting humanitarian aid to North Korea.”

At a joint news conference in Washington last month, U.S. President Joe Biden said he and Moon remained deeply concerned about the situation with North Korea. Biden said he would deploy a new special envoy to North Korea to help renew relations.

In his comments Monday, Moon said Biden’s announcement “sent a strong message that he wants talks with North Korea. We are hoping that North Korea responds to this.”

Moon also said that Biden expressed his support for inter-Korean talks and cooperation, which Moon said he believes could help lead to new talks between the U.S. and North Korea. According to the Associated Press, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said in recent speeches that a combination of COVID-19, economic sanctions and natural disasters has the country facing one of its worst ever situations.

Moon and Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz met Monday with reporters following bilateral talks. The Korea Herald reported that Moon’s visit was the first to the country by a Korean leader since the two nations established formal ties in 1892. Moon arrived Sunday following the G-7 summit in Britain.

 

Source: Voice of America

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ICC Prosecutor Requests Full Probe Into Philippines Drugs Crackdown

A prosecutor at the International Criminal Court on Monday requested an investigation into the Filipino government’s crackdown on drug-related crime.

Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said an initial probe into the issue started in February 2018 “determined that there is a reasonable basis to believe that the crime against humanity of murder has been committed” in the Philippines between July 1, 2016, and March 16, 2019.

The Philippines withdrew from the ICC on March 16, 2019, because of the ICC’s initial probe.

Despite the withdrawal, Bensouda, whose nine-year term as a prosecutor ends this week, said the court still has jurisdiction, as the alleged crimes took place while the Philippines was still a member.

She said the initial investigation “indicates that members of the Philippine National Police, and others acting in concert with them, have unlawfully killed between several thousand and tens of thousands of civilians during that time.”

She also said prosecutors investigated allegations of “torture and other inhumane acts, and related events” dating back to Nov. 1, 2011.

Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte defended the government’s anti-drug policies when he announced its withdrawal from the ICC, saying it was “lawfully directed against drug lords and pushers who have for many years destroyed the present generation, specially the youth.”

ICC judges have 120 days to decide whether to move forward on Bensouda’s request.

 

Source: Voice of America