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Tidal waves in Asia - ECHO's response

Summary: January 4, 2005: Tidal waves in Asia - ECHO's response (as of 4 January 2005) (Brussels)

ECHO responded quickly to the humanitarian disaster in Asia following the earthquake on 26 December. Staff were immediately mobilised and on the same day, ECHO allocated €3 million for the relief efforts of the International Red Cross/Crescent Federation - using the primary emergency procedure. This funding was used for vital initial aid including water purification equipment, food, blankets, kitchen sets, stoves, hygiene kits and temporary shelter. It is also covered the provision of medical personnel, equipment and supplies and the tracing of missing persons.

Two further decisions, each for €10 million, were signed by Commissioner Louis Michel on 30 and 31 December, releasing funds to help victims of the tidal waves in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Maldives. Contracts with partners are being finalised.

Identified needs include food, water/sanitation, health (medical kits and infrastructures), shelter, communications and, in Sri Lanka, emergency de-mining (a legacy of the conflict that hampers current relief activities).

The €10 million decision for Indonesia is focused on meeting needs in Aceh. ECHO's main partners for this first tranche of funds are United Nations agencies, as follows:

From the €10 million decision for Sri Lanka and the Maldives contracts with UNICEF worth a total of €2.93 million have already been launched. These cover the following activities: Contracts for a further €1.57 million covering water, sanitation and basic kits (food and non-food) are due to be launched today with the remaining funds contracted by the end of this week.

The €23 million is all money that has been formally committed, not simply pledged.
All expenses incurred by partners in delivering aid are eligible for ECHO funding retroactively (from the date of the disaster) .

Rolling programme

ECHO's approach in major crises such as this is to have a rolling programme of funding based on identified needs and proposals presented by its humanitarian partners. A fourth substantial funding decision is currently being prepared.

Of the €75 million reserve in the ECHO 2005 budget, €52m remains. There is also €221m in the emergency reserve of the Community budget that the Commission can request from the budgetary authority (Council and Parliament).

The Commission is participating fully in coordination activities in the field with ECHO experts in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand. They are working closely with the United Nations and other donors to ensure the coordination of the humanitarian aid effort on the ground.

Louis Michel, the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid has just visited Sri Lanka where he met Sri Lankan leaders, visited communities in the stricken coastal region and held discussions with major stakeholders involved in the relief effort. He will travel to Indonesia today for similar engagements, and to take part in an ASEAN leaders' meeting on the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. This high level meeting in Djakarta will also be attended by the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso.

FUNDING COMMITTED AND PLEDGED BY THE EU (COMMISSION + MEMBER STATES) FOR VICTIMS OF THE TIDAL WAVES IN ASIA UP TO 4 JANUARY

Concrete commitments €267 million ($356m)

Pledges €436 million ($581m)

These totals are based on figures reported by Member States to the Commission and on ECHO analyses of OCHA reports.


  • Ref: EC05-002EN
  • EU source: European Commission
  • UN forum: 
  • Date: 4/1/2005


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See also
 

European Union Member States