Mr Rampangilei said he was confident the exercise would provide valuable insights into the most effective regional response to disasters.

“Exercises such as Ambon are important for testing assumptions and exploring issues, so that we can learn any lessons and are as prepared as possible for when a real disaster occurs.”

The EAS Rapid Disaster Response Toolkit provides three elements or ‘tools’: first contact points in each country for requesting or receiving assistance; a reference guide for how to manage offers of assistance; and a detailed inventory of each country’s specific disaster capabilities and arrangements.

The development of the Toolkit and the exercise was led in Australia by Emergency Management Australia in the Attorney-General’s Department, with the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.