US-Vietnam Disaster Response Table Top Exercise takes place in Vietnam

SOURCE: DVIDS

Theo nguồn tin trên trang mạng của DVIDS

By Katryn McCalment

HANOI, Vietnam – Opening ceremonies for the first-ever U.S.-Vietnam Disaster Response and Civil-Military Coordination Table Top Exercise, or TTX, were held in Hanoi, Vietnam, May 10.

The four-day event includes international, regional and national disaster management organizations, militaries, and nongovernmental organizations to assist Vietnam in shaping guidelines for managing international disaster assistance through training briefs and working group sessions.

“Vietnam and the United States have mutual interests in humanitarian assistance and disaster response training and preparation,” said Deputy Chief of Mission Susan Sutton, U.S. Embassy Hanoi, Vietnam. “(Humanitarian assistance and disaster response) engagements and exchanges are a pillar of our 2011 Defense Cooperation memorandum of understanding. As such, I am delighted to see that we are making significant progress in realizing our defense cooperation commitment.”

Sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DM) and hosted by Vietnam’s National Committee for Incident, Disaster Response, and Search and Rescue (VINASARCOM), the TTX includes participants from the Vietnam People’s Armed Forces, U.S. Embassy, U.S. Pacific Command, Oregon National Guard, U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

During the event, nearly 40 U.S. participants and approximately 150 Vietnamese senior leaders and disaster response stakeholders will consider whether Vietnam should request international assistance after a fictional super typhoon causes severe damage to several northern and central provinces. The training scenario is focused on four areas of expertise: maritime search and rescue, urban search and rescue, chemical spill response, and medical assistance and field hospital deployment.

International response efforts occur at the request of the affected nation. Simulating such a request for assistance provides the two nations an opportunity to address solutions to any interoperability issues within the respective missions sets.

“Discussion dialog, best practices and lessons learned shared between militaries and civilian organizations during this event will continue to increase mutual understanding, trust and confidence in the pursuit of rapid and effective response to save lives and mitigate suffering resulting from natural and manmade disasters,” said Col. Joseph Martin, director of CFE-DM.

In addition to the 2011 U.S.-Vietnam Defense Cooperation memorandum of understanding, the TTX supports the Comprehensive Partnership announced by U.S. President Barack Obama and Vietnam’s President Truong Tan Sang in July 2013.

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