Annual Review 2007 EUROPEAN COMMISSION *** ** ** **** * Humanitarian Aid 25 Format: (210.00 x 297.00 mm); Date: Apr 16, 2008 16:33:06; Output Profile: CMYK ISO Uncoated Annual review 2007 Contents Contents Message from Commissioner Louis Michel 1 Key events in 2007 2 Features European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid 4 Bangladesh: Battling the elements 5 Middle East: Being a refugee 6 Global reach Humanitarian funding by country, territory and region 7 Thematic funding 17 Disaster preparedness 18 Food aid 19 Sudan: Displaced in Darfur 20 Peru: “I just called to say … I’m alive” 21 Sahel: A plan and the “magic potion” 22 Facts and fi gures Facts and fi gures 23 Who’s who in DG ECHO 24 Useful web links 25 Publisher: António Cavaco, Director-General, European Commission, Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) Text and coordination: ‘Information and Communication’ Unit (ECHO A.5) Format: (210.00 x 297.00 mm); Date: Apr 16, 2008 16:36:10; Output Profile: CMYK ISO Uncoated Message from the Commissioner "As the largest relief donor, the European Union has a special responsibility" 2007 was characterised by an upsurge in natural dis- asters. The lives and livelihoods of millions of people were shattered as devastating fl oods and storms struck a swathe of countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Climate change is to blame… For the fi rst time since records began, two category fi ve storms – the most powerful on the scale – developed in a single Atlantic hurricane season. Severe drought affected other regions in the world, bringing misery and ted fully to living up to this responsibility. In December hunger to millions of human beings. 2007, a European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid was The international community must confront new humani- adopted by the European Union and its 27 Member tarian challenges presented by ever-more extreme States. This Consensus sets out a common EU vision, weather changes caused by global warming. The Inter- shared principles and well defi ned operating rules. This governmental Panel on Climate Change has already concrete approach will allow a more effective response warned of the danger of a dramatic fall in crop yields in to the increasing challenges of the humanitarian envi- many of the world's most vulnerable countries, particu- ronment. larly in Africa. The quality of the Commission's work was acknow- ledged this year by the Development Assistance …but it's not the only reason… Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Powerful earthquakes again exacted a costly human toll Cooperation and Development (OECD). This positive in Peru, Indonesia and the Solomon Islands. We can do review of the Commission's aid policies and pro- nothing to prevent seismic events, but we can and we grammes, including humanitarian aid, is particularly should do more to boost the preparedness of communi- signifi cant as it was drafted by our peers – other donors ties located on the fault lines. It is also our duty to help who face the same difficulties and challenges in defi n- them in the crucial hours after the disaster has struck. ing and implementing humanitarian aid policies. In 2008,I intend to present an action plan providing a …human beings have a major responsibility concrete operational follow-up to the European Con- Most humanitarian needs are rooted in political crises sensus on Humanitarian Aid. and human conflicts. The terrible tragedy in Darfur and My ambition is very simple: to provide assistance rap- Chad immediately springs to mind. The largest Com- idly to communities suffering from man-made conflicts mission-funded relief programmes are in these two or natural disasters, irrespective of their race, religion countries. Other places suffer from the inhumane side or political beliefs. of human nature: like Burma, Kashmir, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia. Then there is Zimbabwe, where people are not fi ghting but far too many are suffering Louis Michel and dying. European Commissioner for Development 2007 was a year without precedent in which humanitar- and Humanitarian Aid ian agencies were called upon to meet the basic needs March 2008 of the communities affected by these disasters. The European Union is the world's largest relief donor. As such we have a huge responsibility. The EU – Member States and Commission working together – are commit- 1 Format: (210.00 x 297.00 mm); Date: Apr 07, 2008 14:25:41; Output Profile: CMYK ISO Uncoated Annual review 2007 January April The humanitarian crisis in Somalia worsens after An 8.1 magnitude earthquake causes a tsunami to torrential rains at the end of 2006 affect hundreds of strike the Solomon Islands, leaving more than a thousands in the fi rst weeks of the new year. dozen villages destroyed and thousands stranded. A state of emergency is declared in Bolivia after El The humanitarian situation deteriorates in the north Niño style fl ooding destroys more than 200,000 of the Central African Republic due to increasing homes. activities of domestic and foreign rebels and bandits as well as efforts of government forces to fi ght these groups. More than 200,000 people are displaced as a February result. Cyclone Favio strikes Mozambique causing loss of The UN warns that Chad faces an impending refugee life and destruction of homes and infrastructure. crisis as the country struggles to cope with thou- sands of refugees from Darfur in neighbouring Severe fl ooding in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta makes around 340,000 people homeless. Sudan. Continued violence against civilians and deteriorating Intense fi ghting in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu. More security for humanitarian organisations in the Darfur than 420,000 have fl ed since December 2006. province of Sudan are denounced by the European Commission. A state of emergency is declared in Guinea following May violent protests. Several people are killed in clashes Fighting between the Islamic Fatah group and the between demonstrators and the police. Lebanese army in the Palestinian refugee camp Nahr The UN warn that the number of people in Iraq being el Bared in Lebanon leads to the displacement of over forced to leave their homes constitutes a humanitarian 31,000 camp residents. disaster with around four million people either dis- placed within Iraq or living as refugees in neighbour- ing countries. June Hamas takes control of the Gaza Strip prompting Israel to close the border. EU Commissioner Louis March Michel calls for humanitarian access to the Strip to An escalation of the conflict between the government enable the delivery of vital relief supplies. and the Tamil Tigers forces thousands to fl ee their The International Committee of the Red Cross publicly homes in Sri Lanka. highlights violations of international humanitarian Two earthquakes hit Sumatra in Indonesia killing at law in Burma/Myanmar. least 82 people. The earthquakes’ effects are felt as The winter season in the central and southern Andean far as Malaysia and Singapore. region of Peru starts with a cold wave and the cold- A state of emergency is declared in the Marshall est temperatures experienced in 30 years. The gov- Islands as a severe drought leaves thousands with- ernment declares a state of emergency. out drinking water. July The offi cial infl ation rate in Zimbabwe goes above 7,600%, the highest in the world. A crumbling econ- omy, poor governance, food insecurity, erratic weather conditions and an HIV/AIDS pandemic are elements of the country’s humanitarian crisis. 2 Format: (210.00 x 297.00 mm); Date: Apr 07, 2008 14:30:43; Output Profile: CMYK ISO Uncoated Key events 2007 August October Peru is hit by an 8.0 magnitude earthquake and a EU Commissioner Louis Michel proposes an EU series of aftershocks which destroy lives, homes and strategy for peace, security and development in the land. Horn of Africa. Hurricane Dean causes destruction across the Typhoon Lekima hits Vietnam followed by heavy rains Caribbean. and extensive fl ooding. 400,000 people are evacu- ated. Floods in South Asia affect millions of people in Bangladesh, India and Nepal. Tropical storm Noel hits the Dominican Republic followed by a tropical wave of torrential rains, affect- 500,000 people are affected by severe fl oods in North ing 80% of the country. Korea. Floods in Colombia affect more than 580,000 people. November Cyclone Sidr strikes Bangladesh killing 3,363 people September and causing wide-spread devastation. The homes of Hurricane Felix hits Nicaragua. 200,000 people are more than two million people are swept away. affected. More residents fl ee Somalia’s capital Mogadishu as Torrential rains cause fl oods across Africa with the battle between government forces and Islamist- Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Togo, Mauritania and led insurgents rages. Hundreds of thousands of Burkina Faso particularly hit. civilians have fl ed the capital in 2007. Increasing violence and military confrontations between the Congolese army and rebel forces in the North Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of December Congo causes widespread human suffering and dis- Algeria: UN offi ces in Algiers are targeted by a sui- places hundreds of thousands people. cide attack, killing 17 UN workers. African Union peacekeepers in the Darfur region in The EU adopts a European Consensus on Humanitar- Sudan are attacked. ian Aid. Buddhist monks lead a series of anti-government Violent clashes in Kenya after the disputed election protests in Burma/Myanmar which are violently victory of President Kibaki. suppressed by the authorities. The European Commission and its humanitarian non- Forest fi res in Paraguay affect around 200,000 governmental partner organisations sign a new people directly with a million hectares of land, for- Framework Partnership Agreement, laying down the ests and crops ruined.