Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-The “Pacific Resilience Disaster Response Exercise and Exchange (PR DREE)”, a civil-military disaster preparedness and response initiative involving the Bangladesh government and the US army began in Dhaka on Sunday.
The five-day long exercise would review and evaluate Dhaka city earthquake response plans, practice logistical and medical emergency scenarios, and identify current gaps in plans and procedures, said a press statement of the US embassy in Dhaka.
The workshop which began from Sunday is also aimed at increasing coordination between emergency management and aviation stakeholders and assessing foreign humanitarian assistance procedures in Bangladesh.
“Pacific Resilience” is a series of exercises throughout the Asia-Pacific region that ensures that the US is prepared to assist its global partners in the event of a major disaster.
It also supports US Pacific Command’s (USPACOM) civil-military integration and humanitarian assistance/disaster response capabilities.
The disaster preparedness and response initiative will engage a wide range of Bangladeshi and international government and non-government organisations.
During the 2015 PR DREE, more than 150 participants will take part in a phased table-top exercise and 350 will participate in a field training exercise.
This is the sixth time the Bangladesh government, the Bangladesh Armed Forces Division, and US Army Pacific are gathering to practice earthquake response procedures.
BBN/SK/ANS