Responding to emergencies in Southeast Asia: Can we do better? A review of the humanitarian response to the 2011 Thailand and Cambodia floods

Following flooding in south-east Asia in 2011 that affected millions of people in Thailand and Cambodia, adherence to disaster management systems proved challenging. And, while neither the Thai nor Cambodian governments made a formal appeal for international assistance, both made it clear that they would welcome assistance. This gave rise to some uncertainty among international actors. It highlights the need for tools and guidelines tailored to suit this ‘welcome but not request’ scenario.
In the Asia-Pacific region – the most disaster-prone region in the world – there is a growing imperative to ensure that disaster management systems are fit for purpose. And to harness national, regional and international response capacities, so that when a disaster occurs, aid is provided where it is needed, when it is needed, to those who need it most.
This report analyses the national, regional and international responses to the floods. It puts forward recommendations to the governments of Thailand and Cambodia, the ASEAN Secretariat, NGOs, the UN and donors.