EU humanitarian aid for disaster preparedness in the Andean Community and South Asia

The European Commission has approved two new disaster preparedness (DIPECHO) action plans worth €6.5 million to help local populations in the Andean Community and South Asia prepare for and respond to natural disasters. The DIPECHO programme was launched by ECHO in 1996 to help prepare populations in areas at risk from natural catastrophe and to support practical measures to reduce the risk. ECHO allocates about €8 million worldwide through DIPECHO each year. Funds support training, capacity-building, awareness-raising and early-warning projects as well the organisation of relief services. The programme has shown that even simple and inexpensive precautions can help save lives and property when disaster strikes. The funds are directed through the Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) and will be implemented by aid agencies working in the regions concerned.

Disaster risk reduction in favour of the people of the Andean Community - €4 million

The Andean Community (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela) is exposed to a wide range of recurrent natural disasters. Local communities, in particular in Bolivia and Ecuador, lack the necessary coping capacities to respond rapidly and effectively to disaster situations and are consequently left highly dependant on international aid. This latest DIPECHO plan for the Andean Countries builds on experience gathered during the implementation two previous decisions in favour of the Andean countries worth €8,770,000. ECHO will give priority to strengthening local involvement in programme implementation and management. Local response capacities will be strengthened through infrastructure support, advocacy and public awareness raising campaigns, small-scale mitigation works, education, institutional strengthening, developing early warning systems, research, risk mapping and data computerisation activities.

Support for vulnerable populations in South Asia - €2.5 million

The weakness of social and government structures, demographic pressures, the nature of economic development and land use in South Asia make the local population extremely vulnerable to the risks of natural disasters. The first DIPECHO plan was launched in the region in 2001.

Building on the experience gained during previous interventions, this latest funding decision seeks to reinforce coordination between the different actors involved in the preparation and prevention of disasters at the local, national and regional levels. ECHO will fund training for local authority representatives, first aid teams, and teachers, and support mechanisms promoting better communication between different institutional bodies. In addition, ECHO will finance community based disaster preparedness and seek to raise local awareness of disaster risks and life-saving responses. Funding will be targeted at the most vulnerable people, and local and community institutions in Nepal, Bangladesh and northern regions of India.

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