Commission's Civil Protection Mechanism to co-ordinate technical assistance in South Asia

Summary: January 5, 2005: Commission's Civil Protection Mechanism takes effective measures to co-ordinate technical assistance in South Asia (Brussels)

Member States provide valuable technical assistance to the victims of the tsunami in South Asia using the Commission's Civil Protection Mechanism. The assistance includes medical supplies, tents and blankets, food and water, as well as medical staff field hospitals and water purification units. The Commission's Civil Protection Mechanism was activated on 26 December at 8.45 CET, immediately following the first reports of the earthquake in Indonesia. At 11.30, the first European expert left for Thailand. Over the last ten days, the activities of the Mechanism have considerably facilitated the operations and rescue efforts by the Member States in South Asia. Since the initial phase of the emergency is considered to be over, the first European fire fighter teams dispatched by the Civil Protection Mechanism are now on their way home.

European Commissioner Stavros Dimas, responsible for the civil protection mechanism, commented: "Our Civil Protection Mechanism has proven to be valuable in this time of crisis and Member States have offered considerable assistance. The tsunami disaster is a terrible tragedy that has shocked and saddened all Europeans. The Commission will continue to coordinate and maximise the effectiveness of the aid that the EU is offering in response to requests for help."

Overview of European civil protection assistance in South Asia

In 2001, the Council established the Community Civil Protection Mechanism to support and facilitate European civil protection assistance in the event of major disasters. The operational heart of this system is the Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC), operated by the Commission on a 24 hour a day / 7 days a week basis. When an emergency breaks out, the MIC has the role of alerting the 30 participating countries (EU-25, Bulgaria, Romania, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). On request of the disaster-stricken state and, in the case of the South Asian crisis, in close co-operation with the UN Agencies on the spot, the MIC transmits requests for assistance and then coordinates the delivery of material and teams that are made available. To facilitate the process, the MIC financed expert teams, who were sent to Sri Lanka, Thailand, the Maldives and Indonesia. Their role is to advise on what is needed and liaise with the local authorities and international partners to ensure smooth arrival and distribution of the assistance.

Following the initial assessments, European countries have sent valuable civil protection assistance to the affected region. The following is a provisional overview of the civil protection assistance which has either been coordinated through or officially notified to the MIC.

The summary will be further updated and refined as assistance continues to be delivered. Moreover, this summary does not include the many financial or purely humanitarian donations that Member States have offered through international relief organisations (UN-OCHA, UNCIF, Red Cross and Red Crescent).

Sri Lanka[ Figures and graphics available in PDF and WORD PROCESSED ]

The Commission contracted EU assessment experts from Sweden and France. Other assistance included the following.

France, Hungary, Italy, Portugal have sent medical teams and supplies.
France has also sent a support team and sanitation equipment.
Poland, Romania and Austria have sent medical supplies.
Greece has sent material aid including medical staff and also fire men.
Sweden has sent temporary shelters.
Slovak Republic has sent medical supplies, tents, blankets, and bottled mineral water.
Czech Republic has sent supplies of bottled water.
Luxembourg has sent field beds and covers.
Belgium has sent material aid, including tents, jerrycans, sheets, water purification devices.
Germany has supplied water supply and pumps.
Austria, Germany, Italy and United Kingdom have sent their own evaluation teams.
Cyprus will send medical supplies and other relief items (blankets, beds, temporary sanitation).

Thailand

The Commission contracted an EU assessment expert from Italy. Other assistance included the following:

Italy has sent a medical equipment and supplies.
Germany and Greece have sent search and rescue teams and equipment.
Many countries have sent forensic expertise, victim identification and (medical) evacuation teams; the MIC was notified of teams from Belgium, Finland and Portugal.
Malta will provide water, blankets, medical supplies and personal sanitary material.

Indonesia

The Commission contracted EU assessment experts from France. Other assistance included the following:

Belgium has sent relief materials.
Czech Republic has sent medical supplies and body bags.
Germany and France have sent additional experts on site.
France has sent a field hospital.
Denmark is supplying a field hospital and relief team.
Estonia has sent a medical team (thanks to transportation by the Netherlands).
Norway has made two C-130 Hercules military transport planes available to the Norwegian Red Cross and UN in a logistics support operation.
Through the International Humanitarian Partnership, transportation, accommodation and telecommunication assistance has been made available.
Portugal will send medical supplies, a field hospital and a medical team in order to set up an epidemiological monitoring system.

Maldives

The Commission contracted an EU assessment expert from Germany. Other assistance included the following:

Germany has sent 3 experts/coordinators and 4 teams for water purification (purification material, pumps, generators).
Greece has sent humanitarian material aid including medical staff and also fire men.

Ref: EC05-003EN
EU source: European Commission
UN forum:
Date: 5/1/2005

| Top |

< Back to previous page