MFA hosted an event titled “20 Years On: Remembering the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami”

On 21 November 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted an event titled "20 Years On: Remembering the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami" at the Ministry, to commemorate the 20th year since the Indian Ocean Tsunami on 26 December 2004. The event was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, representatives from international organizations, disaster management agencies, civil society organizations, private sector, and youth, as well as media representatives from 16 agencies. The objective of the event was to remember the losses from the 26 December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, raise awareness of the importance of disaster preparedness through the strengthening of multi-hazard early warning systems, singnificance of international cooperation in disaster risk reduction and the ESCAP Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster, and Climate Preparedness which have strengthened early warning systems and disaster risk reduction in the Asia-Pacific region, and Thailand's role as the founder of the Trust Fund in 2005.

The event featured a panel discussion titled "Towards a More Resilient Asia-Pacific through multi-hazard early warning systems." Mrs. Eksiri Pintaruchi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered the opening remarks reflecting Thailand's proactive efforts in advancing early warning systems, regional cooperation, and stressing the significant role of international mechanisms such as the ESCAP Multi-Donor Trust Fund. The panel discussion was divided into two sessions: post-disaster recovery, lessons learnt, and experience sharing, and the development of multi-hazard early warning systems. The panelists shared views on the importance of capacity-building for communities on disaster risk reduction, integrating government, private, and business sectors in disaster risk reduction investments, and leveraging big data to reduce disaster response time.

Following the panel discussion, a remembrance ceremony on the losses from the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami was held to announce Thailand's additional contribution of USD 500,000 (approximately 16,260,000 Baht) to the ESCAP Multi-Donor Trust Fund. Mr. Russ Jalichandra, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs presented the financal contribution to Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of ESCAP. In his remarks, the Vice Minister emphasized the importance of multi-hazard preparedness and encouraged countries and partners to support the Trust Fund's continued efforts.

As part of the remembrance ceremony, a Disaster Resilience Exhibition was organized to showcase innovations, and roles of local communities in responding to disasters, as well as case studies and good practises. Exhibitors included the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the ESCAP Multi-Donor Trust Fund, the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES), UNDRR, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation of Thailand, and the Thai Red Cross Society.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Ministry of Interior of Thailand, in collaboration with the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) will host a commemorative event on the 20^th year of the Indian Ocean Tsunami from 26-27 December 2024 in Phang Nga Province to honor the victims and those affected by the disaster, showcase Thailand's progress on disaster management, and promote awareness and preparedness for future disasters.