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EUROPEAN COMMISSION Brussels, 3.2.2015 C(2015) 663 final COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 3.2.2015 financing emergency humanitarian actions in Southern Africa from the general budget of the European Union (ECHO/-SF/BUD/2015/01000) EN EN COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 3.2.2015 financing emergency humanitarian actions in Southern Africa from the general budget of the European Union (ECHO/-SF/BUD/2015/01000) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid1, and in particular Article 2(a), Article 4 and Article 13 thereof, Having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 2, and in particular Article 84(2) thereof; Whereas: (1) Heavy rains and tropical storms since December 2014 have led to severe flooding across the Southern African region, in particular in Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar, affecting more than 1 million people (as of 23 January 2015), causing displacement of thousands and destruction of houses, schools, health facilities, roads, bridges and other infrastructure and loss of crops and livestock. In inaccessible areas people are still stranded, rescue and relief operations are on-going but heavy rains coupled with strong winds are expected in the near future and the risk of flooding is still high. The situation is therefore likely to worsen. (2) In Malawi the flooding has affected approximately 638 000 people and a State of Disaster has been declared by the President on 13 January 2015 in the 15 most affected districts. 121 000 people are currently displaced, 50 lives have been lost and 153 people are missing. In Mozambique, there are 64 dead and 137 614 affected people. In Madagascar the tropical storm Chedza has resulted in 35 deaths and nearly 117 181 people affected. The numbers are expected to rise in all three countries as the rain continues. (3) The humanitarian aid partners of the Commission are on the ground engaged in the response and requesting Union financial support for the integrated relief operations, including provision of food, shelter, non-food items, water, sanitation and hygiene interventions, epidemics prevention, primary health and protection. Support to logistics and coordination are crucial to ensure efficient and timely provision of the 1 OJ L 163, 2.7.1996, p. 1 2 OJ L 298/1, 26.10.2012 EN 2 EN humanitarian assistance as access to the affected populations is in some locations extremely difficult. Early recovery assistance is also essential to restore the livelihoods of the affected population. (4) To reach populations in need, humanitarian aid should be channelled through Non- Governmental Organisations ('NGOs') and international organisations including United Nations ('UN') agencies. Therefore the Commission should implement the budget by direct management or by indirect management. (5) Humanitarian aid actions financed by this Decision should be of a maximum duration of 6 months. (6) Pursuant to Article 130 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council ('the Financial Regulation') and in view of the specific nature of the humanitarian situation necessitating emergency action, expenditure incurred before the date of submission of a proposal should be eligible for Union funding. (7) It is estimated that an amount of EUR 3 000 000 from budget article 23 02 01 of the general budget of the European Union is necessary to provide humanitarian assistance to approximately 1 000 000 flood affected people in Southern Africa, taking into account the available budget, other donors' contributions and other factors. The activities covered by this Decision could be financed in full in accordance with Article 277 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/20123 ('the Rules of Application'). (8) This Decision complies with the conditions laid down in Article 94 of the Rules of Application. (9) Pursuant to Article 13 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96, the opinion of the Humanitarian Aid Committee is not required, HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 1. A maximum amount of EUR 3 000 000 for the financing of emergency humanitarian actions in Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar from budget article 23 02 01 of the 2015 general budget of the European Union is approved. 2. The humanitarian actions shall be implemented in order to improve the humanitarian situation of vulnerable people affected by floods in Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar through the provision of integrated relief and early recovery assistance. Article 2 1. The period for the implementation of the actions financed under this Decision shall start on 13 January 2015. Expenditure under this Decision shall be eligible from the 3 OJ L 362, 31.12.2012, p. 1 EN 3 EN same date. The duration of individual humanitarian aid actions financed under this Decision shall be limited to a maximum of six months. 2. Pursuant to Article 130 of the Financial Regulation, and in view of the specific nature of humanitarian aid, expenditure incurred before the date of submission of a proposal may be eligible for Union funding. 3. If the implementation of individual actions is suspended owing to force majeure or other exceptional circumstances, the period of suspension shall not be taken into account in the implementing period of this Decision in respect of the action suspended. 4. In accordance with the contractual provisions ruling the Agreements financed under this Decision, the Commission may consider eligible those costs arising and incurred after the end of the implementing period of the action which are necessary for its winding-up. Article 3 1. In accordance with Article 277 of the Rules of Application and having regard to the urgency of the action, the availability of other donors and other relevant operational circumstances, funds under this Decision may finance humanitarian actions in full. 2. Actions supported by this Decision shall be implemented either by non-governmental organisations which fulfil the eligibility and suitability criteria laid down in Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 or by international organisations. 3. The Commission shall implement the budget: (a) either by direct management, with non-governmental organisations; (b) or by indirect management with international organisations that are signatories to the Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) or the Financial Administrative Framework Agreement with the UN (FAFA) and which were subject to the institutional compliance assessment ('six pillar assessment') in line with Article 61 of the Financial Regulation. Article 4 This Decision shall take effect on the date of its adoption. Done at Brussels, 3.2.2015 For the Commission Claus H. Sørensen Director-General EN 4 EN EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL HUMANITARIAN AID AND CIVIL PROTECTION - ECHO Emergency Humanitarian Aid Decision 23 02 01 Title: Commission Implementing Decision on the financing of emergency humanitarian actions in Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar from the general budget of the European Union Description: Emergency assistance for populations affected by floods in Southern Africa and Indian Ocean Location of action: Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar Amount of Decision: EUR 3 000 000 Decision reference number: ECHO/-SF/BUD/2015/01000 Supporting document 1 Humanitarian context, needs and risks 1.1 Situation and context Heavy rains and tropical storms since December 2014 have led to severe flooding across the Southern African region, in particular in Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar, affecting more than one million people (as of 23 January 2015), causing displacement of thousands and destruction of houses, schools, health facilities, roads, bridges and other infrastructure and loss of crops and livestock. In inaccessible areas people are still stranded, rescue and relief operations are ongoing but heavy rains coupled with strong winds are expected in the near future and the risk of flooding is still high. The situation is therefore likely to worsen. In Malawi, the flooding has, according to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), affected approximately 638 000 people and a State of Disaster has been declared by the President on 13 January 2015 in the 15 most affected districts. 1 1 1 121 000 people are reported to be currently displaced, 50 lives have been lost and 153 people are missing. In Mozambique, the local authorities report 64 dead and 137 614 affected people .The numbers are expected to rise as the rain continues. The United Nations Resident Coordination Office (UNRCO) reports that 50 481 people are in 49 accommodation centres. In Madagascar, the tropical storm Chedza made landfall on 18 January. Heavy rains were reported across the country, including over the capital Antananarivo. Nearly 117 181 people are reported to have been affected by the tropical storm so far, and 35 have people are died. ECHO1 is closely collaborating with the EU Delegations in the affected countries, the OCHA Regional Office in Johannesburg, UNDAC, IFRC and all other partners in the collective effort to support the national governments in assisting victims of the disaster. 1.2 Identified humanitarian needs The assessments of the situation in all the affected countries are still on-going; including UNDAC, FACT, and ECHO deployed staff to Malawi. The Commission's humanitarian aid partners are on the ground engaged in the response and requesting Union financial support for life-saving operations, including provision of food, shelter, NFI, WASH/epidemics prevention, primary health care and protection. Support to logistics and coordination are crucial to ensure efficient and timely provision of the humanitarian assistance. Access to the affected populations in some locations is extremely difficult. Malawi Malawi is the country most affected by the floods. DoDMA estimate that 638 000 people are affected through damages to crops and houses.