Kuala lumpur: Coordination among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is more important than ever to ensure rapid humanitarian relief and disaster response efforts, speakers at a forum here said on Monday.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the increasing frequency of natural disasters, climate emergencies, and sudden outbreaks of conflicts requires foresight, compassion, and a strong commitment to mitigate human suffering and aid recovery efforts. This was emphasized by speakers at the inaugural Southeast Asia Red Cross Red Crescent Humanitarian Forum, who highlighted the need for sustainable and dignified growth to contain the effects of such disasters.

Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz, national chairperson of the Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC), stated that the convening of the forum is timely. As the current ASEAN chair, Malaysia has an opportunity to help shape ASEAN's humanitarian agenda and strengthen regional capacities. She pointed out that Southeast Asia faces various humanitarian pressures, including floods, earthquakes, and landslides, as well as disease outbreaks, conflict, and displacement, all of which significantly impact health, livelihoods, and food security.

Regis Savioz, regional director for the Asia-Pacific International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), noted that current conflicts are increasingly complex and often marked by state-on-state confrontation, with humanitarian workers frequently caught in crossfire. He highlighted the launch of the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law (Global IHL Initiative) by countries such as China, Brazil, France, Jordan, Kazakhstan, and South Africa, which aims to renew political commitment to international humanitarian law.

Alexander Matheou, regional director for Asia-Pacific at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), pointed out that Asia is especially hard hit by natural and humanitarian disasters, notably in countries like Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. He urged countries to contribute to disaster preparedness to enable efficient resource use and timely response when disasters occur.

The one-day forum gathered over 150 delegates to address the escalating humanitarian challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region, which accounted for more than half of the 45.8 million people displaced by 559 disasters in 2024.