Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council. Annual report on the European Union’s humanitarian aid and civil protection policies and their implementation in 2013

This Annual Report outlines the main policy achievements and activities of the European Commission in the field of humanitarian aid and civil protection, carried out principally through its Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO) during 2013. While it does not describe in detail all the work and actions undertaken, it does present the ‘headline’ activities and major developments.

ECHO’s mandate encompasses both humanitarian assistance and civil protection. These are the two main mechanisms through which the European Union (EU) can ensure rapid and effective delivery of relief assistance to people faced with the immediate consequences of disasters.

The humanitarian aid provided by the EU offers relief assistance to the people most in need in third countries. It throws a lifeline to those who are hit by natural and man-made disasters, and prepares communities, victims of recurrent crises, to face the effects of future emergencies. Complementary to humanitarian assistance, civil protection operations offer immediate support with expert teams, rescue equipment and real-time monitoring of developing disasters, both within and beyond the European Union.

Whenever a disaster strikes, assistance is needed immediately. In this context, the timely and effective intervention by the international community can make the difference between life and death. Over half of the global funding provided to address the needs of people struck by natural and man-made disaster situations is provided by the EU and its Member States. Through its humanitarian actions, the EU provides immediate response to disasters, prepares communities for upcoming challenges and strongly promotes the respect for international humanitarian law.

• Primary Source

EUR-Lex: COM(2014)537: Follow the progress of this report through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2014:537:FIN

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