Taiwan has launched a new intergovernmental disaster management alliance that brings governments and emergency response agencies together for joint training, exercises, operations, and information sharing.
The World Alliance for Disaster Management, or WADM, was formally established in Taipei on Sept. 19 with 13 founding members, 17 observers, and 11 partners. Taiwan, its 11 diplomatic allies, and Somaliland make up the founding group.
Government agencies and disaster response organizations from 21 countries—including the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Turkey, and the Philippines—are participating as observers or partners. The director of the American Institute in Taiwan, Raymond Greene, attended the launch.
The alliance was launched at the opening of Taiwan’s “Resilient Taiwan for Sustainable Democracy” forum, where officials linked disaster preparedness and civil resilience with protecting democratic society during crises….