JAKARTA - Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Surin Pitsuwan said on Tuesday that the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Center (AHA Center) in Jakarta is very important to take steps in avoiding big loss caused by natural disasters.

"During the big flood in Thailand, the region carries burden as the country is the hub of many industries, such as automobile, computer and other electronic goods. It's because parts and supporting industry in Thailand has connectivity with the rest production in the region," said Pitsuwan.

He added that the region cannot afford it happens.

"That's why the AHA Center in Jakarta is very critical for us, to strategize together, to create long terms plan, how to avoid such calamities. If this happens and when it happens, we react fast. Disaster risk reduction is probably one of the most effective ways to guard against disasters,"he said.

Pitsuwan said that when a big cyclone hit Bangladesh several years ago, the damage was smaller when Nargis cyclone hit Myanmar in 2008.

That's because Bangladesh has built up its 'immunity', mechanism of defense. That's the kind of thing that ASEAN must have to do, and AHA Center will contribute on it," he said.