Context
PANEX-21 is a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Exercise with a focus on providing relief during the COVID-19 pandemic is being organized for the BIMSTEC countries.
About PANEX-21
- It is a multi-national disaster relief exercise.
- The exercise is to be held among the BIMSTEC countries: Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand.
- The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a body of seven countries for cooperation in areas of common interests.
- The main aim of the exercise is to build regional cooperation in responding to natural disasters.
- This three-day PANEX 21 is to be conducted in Pune from December 20 to December 22.
Significance
- Owing to climate change, the cyclones in Bay of Bengal are becoming more disastrous.
- The increase in surface sea temperature is making the cyclones more powerful. The increase in sea – surface temperature increases the wind speeds of the cyclones.
- The unplanned development in Ecological Sensitive Zones fails to address the risks posed by the increasingly intense cyclones.
For these reasons, it is essential to remain prepared. Therefore, there is a need for international cooperation among the coastal countries.
