In the series of meetings of IONS Working Group (IWG) on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), the 3rd meeting is scheduled at Headquarters Eastern Naval Command, Vishakhapatnam from 27 to 28 September 2018. IONS, the 21st century’s first significant international maritime security initiative launched in February 2008, provides a forum for discussion of regional maritime issues and promotes friendly relationships among member nations. It presently has 24 members and eight observer navies.
Participants from the IWG member nations including Australia, Bangladesh, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Oman and Thailand, will be participating in the two day event. The ‘Guidelines on HADR for IONS nations’, prepared by the Indian Navy will be validated by conduct of a Table Top Exercise as part of the meeting. The participants will also exchange lessons learnt during the conduct of HADR operations by respective navies with special reference to galvanising the IONS efforts to respond in a faster and coordinated manner.
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DKS/AC