Standard Operating Procedures for Regional Standby Arrangements for the Coordination of the Joint Disaster Relief and Emergency Response (SASOP)

SASOP provides:

(i) the guides and templates to initiate the establishment of the ASEAN Standby Arrangements for Disaster Relief and Emergency Response; 

(ii) the procedures for joint disaster relief and emergency response operations; 

(iii) the procedures for the facilitation and utilisation of military and civilian assets and capacities, and;

(iv) the methodology for the periodic conduct of the ASEAN Regional Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercises (ARDEX) which shall test the effectiveness of these procedures.

Reading guide questions:

• What are the different forms through which ASEAN Member States communicate about impending disasters, requests and offers of assistance?

• What are Standby Arrangements? Are they obligatory or voluntary?