Naval humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) operations in the Indo-Pacific region: need for fresh thinking

ABSTRACT Natural disasters are increasing globally. Geographically, the Indo-Pacific region is the world’s most vulnerable region and navies here have been called upon frequently to provide humanitarian assistance. Thus, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) missions have emerged as a key role for the regional navies. However, recent studies in disaster management indicate that disaster risk mitigation needs a greater focus on development issues and preparedness than post-disaster humanitarian response. This paper posits that navies too must expand their focus beyond HA/DR to contribute to other aspects of disaster management and promote collaboration with other stakeholders which could help overall to mitigate risks from natural disasters.