Humanitarian principles under threat

Recently back from a mission in Iraq, Mr. Poul Nielson, European Commissioner in charge of Development and Humanitarian Aid, today warned that the core principles of international humanitarian law, namely humanity, impartiality and independence of action, are being eroded. "These principles have been agreed at international level to ensure that life saving support reaches the most vulnerable during an emergency. When they are compromised, it is the victims who suffer most. It is imperative to provide the space for humanitarian agencies to get on with the job - which is already dangerous enough", he said. In some crisis zones, such as Chechnya or the Palestinian territories, aid workers are being denied access to people in need. Moreover, in the course of 2002, aid workers have continued to be targeted, and even killed, while carrying out their duties, prompting their organisations to halt humanitarian activities in the affected region.

In launching "ECHO 2002", the latest annual review of the Humanitarian Aid Office ECHO, Mr Nielson highlighted the leading role of the European Union in assisting victims of humanitarian crises around the world. Despite the many obstacles faced by its partners, the Humanitarian Aid Office successfully intervened in more than 60 countries to help an estimated 40 - 50 million people.

ECHO ensured the effective management of an overall budget of €538 million in accordance with ECHO's annual strategy for 2002. This was to intervene in areas of greatest humanitarian need, continue its support for forgotten crises and provide quality humanitarian aid by ensuring that relief, rehabilitation and development efforts are properly co-ordinated.

Most of ECHO's work involves intervention in long term crises, such as those in Western Sahara and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a coherent strategy planned well in advance. ECHO was able to provide an appropriate response to new needs, such as the food crisis in Southern Africa. ECHO used additional money from the emergency reserve to help victims of this crisis, as well as to meet growing humanitarian needs in the Middle East. On the brighter side, improving peace and stability in the Balkans meant ECHO was able to wind up most of its operations.

http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/humanitarian_aid/index_en.htm

| Top |