On 7-8 June 2023, the 43rd Meeting of the ASEAN Food Security Reserve Board (AFSRB) hosted by Indonesia was conducted as a physical meeting in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia.
Delegates of ASEAN Member States namely; Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam attended the meeting. Representatives from AFSRB Secretariat, ASEAN Secretariat, APTERR Secretariat, and AFSIS Secretariat, which were Dr. Waraporn Saelee, AFSIS Manager, and Ms. Worada Wongsud, Secretary to Japanese Expert, were also in attendance.
The purpose of the meeting is to facilitate the sharing of information, evaluation, and forecast of food security data within ASEAN and globally for the period of 2022-2023. This includes gathering statistics on the production, consumption, trade, and food reserves of primary crops such as rice, sugar, maize, and soybean among the ASEAN Member States. Especially, the AFSRB Meeting this year will discuss and endorse the ASEAN Leaders' Declaration on Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in Response to Crises.
During the meeting, Dr. Waraporn presented the progress report of AFSIS in 2022-2023, including the challenges in the process of a core report of AFSIS were reported for discussion among member countries. In addition, the implementation plan for the sustainability of AFSIS in the future was also presented for further cooperation and suggestion as it would greatly contribute to the achievement of the ASEAN Leaders' Declaration on Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in Response to Crises in order to strengthen food security in the region through the systematic collection, analysis, and dissemination of food security related information.
The meeting successfully ended with the endorsement of the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration from a great collaboration of all participants. The date and venue of the 44th Meeting of AFSRB will be announced later.
In late November and early December 2024, Malaysia and southern Thailand experienced severe flooding and heavy rainfall, which caused widespread damage, including landslides and agricultural devastation. In Malaysia, 25 districts across seven states were severely impacted, with households evacuated and extensive flooding reported. Similarly, southern Thailand experienced heavy rains and flash flooding, particularly in provinces affecting over 136,000 households. The floods severely damaged agricultural sectors, with significant losses in paddy rice and other crops, amounting to millions of dollars in damages in both countries. In response, both nations initiated emergency measures, including providing aid and conducting damage assessments. Malaysia focused on intensive assistance to affected households, while Thailand mobilized a range of relief efforts, including specialized equipment and emergency vehicles, to support flood-stricken regions. The agricultural losses in both countries highlight the critical need for improved disaster preparedness and more resilient agricultural systems.
The tropical cyclones that impacted the Philippines in November 2024, including Yinxing, Oraji, Usagi, and Man-Yi, have caused widespread devastation across several provinces, resulting in heavy rainfall, severe winds, flooding, and significant agricultural damage. These storms have left communities grappling with extensive losses, including damaged crops, disrupted livelihoods, and displacement. Despite the severe impacts, the government of the Philippines, along with international aid from neighboring countries and global partners, has mobilized resources for relief and recovery. The ongoing efforts to assist those affected highlight the resilience of the Filipino people and the importance of continued preparedness in the face of natural disasters.
On 26-27 November 2024, Dr. Sumanya Ngandee, the AFSIS Manager, participated in the 30th session of the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-30), held in Perth, Australia. This event was co-organized by the Australian Space Agency (ASA), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The forum's focus was to bring together stakeholders from various space agencies in the Asia-Pacific region to address pressing regional issues through space-based solutions.
On Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 22:57 WITA, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, one of Indonesia’s 120 active volcanoes, erupted on the island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara province, The eruption, lasting 24 minutes (1,450 seconds), was recorded with a massive amplitude of 47.3 mm. According to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency, a strong eruption sent ash up to 2,000 meters (6,500 feet), affecting over 10,000 people. Smaller eruptions followed on November 5-6. In response, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) raised the volcano’s alert status to “Awas” (Level IV), indicating a high danger level.
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