[pic] | COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES |

Brussels, 28.9.2007

SEC(2007) 1227

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Accompanying document to the REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid – ECHO

Annual Report 2006 {COM(2007) 555 final}

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY OVERVIEW 2

1.1. Africa 2

1.1.1. Horn of Africa and Eastern Africa 2

1.1.2. Central Africa/Great Lakes 2

1.1.3. Southern Africa 2

1.1.4. West Africa 2

1.2. Caribbean and Pacific 2

1.3. Eastern Europe, Russian Federation, Southern Caucasus, Central Asia, including Mongolia 2

1.4. Mediterranean and Middle East 2

1.5. Asia 2

1.5.1. Tsunami 2

1.5.2. Kashmir Earthquake (Pakistan/India) 2

1.5.3. South Asia 2

1.5.4. South-East Asia 2

1.5.5. East Asia 2

1.6. Latin America 2

1.6.1. Central America (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua) 2

1.6.2. South America except Colombia 2

1.7. Disaster preparedness activities (including dipecho) 2

2. RELATIONS WITH OTHER EU INSTITUTIONS, MEMBER STATES, MAJOR HUMANITARIAN PARTNERS AND NON-EU DONORS 2

2.1. EU Institutions and Member States 2

2.2. Relations with international organisations and non-EU major donors 2

3. OTHER ACTIVITIES 2

3.1. Experts in the field 2

3.2. Security issues 2

3.3. Policy issues 2

3.4. Communication and information 2

3.5. Training initiative 2

3.6. Thematic funding and Grant Facility 2

4. FINANCE, AUDIT AND EVALUATIONS KEY INDICATORS ON LEGALITY AND REGULARITY AND SOUND MANAGEMENT SUPPORTING REASONABLE ASSURANCE 2

5. FINANCIAL TABLES 2

5.1. DG ECHO budget and decisions for Humanitarian aid 1993 - 2006 2

5.2. Evolution of Humanitarian Aid's initial budget and amount of financial decisions over the last 10 years 2

5.3. DG ECHO's finalised contracts 1998-2006* 2

5.4. Geographical breakdown of funding decisions 2001-2006 – Global overview 2

5.5. Funding decisions for humanitarian aid in 2006 2

5.6. Distribution of Contracts by Partner category 2

5.7. DG ECHO Contracts by Category and Nationality of Partners 2006 2

6. LIST OF ACRONYMS 2

COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY OVERVIEW

This synopsis of the EC funded humanitarian operations is presented on a geographical basis, organised around the six regions of the world where DG ECHO funds humanitarian actions.

Each of these geographical sections has the same structure to permit parallel reading:

- Each of the sections starts with an overview of the funding per country (region) and/or per humanitarian crisis in which DG ECHO intervened as well as the main partner humanitarian organisations through which the aid was channelled. For all types of interventions, humanitarian aid is implemented through Commission funding decisions and grant agreements with partners, who implement the specific humanitarian operations in the fields. The overview tables provide the amount of funding decisions taken for that year and the amount of grant agreements that have been concluded in respect of the funding decisions concerned. Since grant agreements can be concluded between the date of the adoption of the funding decision till the end of the following year (n+1 rule) the amount of grant agreements for certain funding decisions is likely to increase further as the funds under 2006 decisions which were not entirely used at the date of drafting this report can still be used in 2007.

- For each of the countries (regions) a description is given of the humanitarian needs that were identified, the main objectives and achievements and, where applicable, the transition between emergency and development or the 'so-called' LRRD: linking relief, rehabilitation and development issues.

This country-by-country overview includes all countries/crises for which funding decisions were adopted in 2006 and also those for which funding was made available in previous years but the implementation was still on-going in 2006 (example Tsunami, Kashmir earthquake).

In sections I.7 and III.6 further information is provided on two types of horizontal funding: a) disaster preparedness activities undertaken in 2006 in order to reduce both vulnerability and exposure of people to risks and disasters as well as to reduce the economic costs of such disasters and b) capacity building actions financed in 2006 through thematic funding and the grant facility , with a view to improve the institutional capacities of partner humanitarian organisations in some specific areas , so that these organisations are better able to respond quickly and efficiently to emergencies.

The figures in this chapter are given to provide the general overview and/or to illustrate the contents of the chapter. The reader may find exhaustive financial information in Chapter V.

Africa

In 2006, Africa was by large the region which received most of the EC humanitarian aid funding (around 48% of the annual budget). The main areas/countries of intervention are listed below:

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* The total amount of grant agreements exceeds the decision amount, since some funds not used under the first grant agreement were used for a new one.

Horn of Africa and Eastern Africa

Regional drought preparedness

Humanitarian needs

Some of the worst humanitarian indicators in the world are available for the region targeted. Typically, in humans (wasting in children under-5 years of age) Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates are between 17 and 30 and Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) rates are between 5 and 8, pointing to an acute humanitarian crisis. SPHERE standards are not met at all in any parts of the region, which is characterised by poor access to water as well as browse and pasture. For populations which depend heavily on the access to water for their own health as well as that of their livestock, this is the crucial issue and one which is pursued by DG ECHO with vigour in its response strategy. Absence of government-led surveillance systems for food security (livestock and crop-related) are some of the main challenges facing humanitarian actors in the region. Vaccination campaigns in livestock are last-minute corrective solutions and failure to address the main causes leads to this makeshift approach. TLU/AAME[1] ratios are beyond the salvageable in the remotest parts of countries covered.

The pastoralist way of life is in crisis not just because of the man-made factors described above. Unfavourable climatic conditions, ever shorter periods between drought cycles, intense periods of drought, high population growth, unpalatable terrain and disease outbreaks are some of the major factors which mitigate recovery of herds and render pastoralists vulnerable to the slightest shocks.

Insecurity in the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA) has had a knock-on effect in the region as a whole. Whether it is the conflict on the Eastern borders of Sudan/Western/Ethiopia, South-East Ethiopia/Somalia as well as inter-clan conflicts over pasture and natural resources such as water, they have imposed involuntary movements in search of secure areas of pasture, increased pressure on resources and causing refugee caseloads.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

EUR 10,000,000 in total targeted seven countries of the GHA (Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Uganda and Kenya) financing regional or national projects. DG ECHO actions supported the establishment of contingency planning measures, early warning systems and community-based mechanisms for response to the inevitable cycles of drought. The majority of projects came on stream in the second half of 2006. Impact and achievements will be measured during a mid-term evaluation in 2007 and at the end of the current programme cycle (end of 2007).

LRRD

In Ethiopia and Eritrea actions funded under this Decision are reinforced national or regional policies. Given the reduced autonomy of the local communities, national policies were respected and activities steered by the authorities.

Actions financed under this Decision throughout the region linked up with the nutritional, food aid and food security programmes managed by EC Delegations (for example the EC Delegation in Ethiopia's call for proposals under the recent Food Security Programme for NGO actions in the pastoral areas of South Ethiopia). Another envelope of EUR 5,000,000 is being allocated by the Delegation for emergency relief interventions in the pastoral areas of Ethiopia.

The Drought Management Initiative (DMI) of the EC Delegation in Kenya (EUR 17,000,000) was approved in November 2006 by the Commission. LRRD will be assured as the government's (Programme Implementing Unit, fully integrated in the Special Office under the President of Kenya, funded by the EC), will be in a position to take over from DG ECHO's activities in the forthcoming years.

Regional emergency Drought Programme

Humanitarian needs

The Horn of Africa has been affected by another failure of the short rains season leading to a severe food and livelihood crisis, due to successive rain failures since 2001. The arid and semi arid lands of Kenya, Southern Somalia, Ethiopia and Djibouti are hardest hit by food and water shortages, as well as insufficient grazing pastures for livestock. This current situation is thought to be too much for many already impoverished pastoral communities to bear, leading to a number of reported deaths from malnutrition, and calls for an emergency. The current situation is foreseen to last for the next 6 months, the habitual period of drought. The populations affected are mainly nomadic pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities who rely on short rains for water and livestock for survival.

Even though the region is known for its regular cycles of drought and rain failures, the past few years have seen these cycles become ever more recurrent, frequent, and severe. This is resulting in pastoral communities trying to survive in an increasingly fragile environment. Should these rains fail, then whole communities are faced by water shortages and insufficient pastures, resulting in food insecurity and a livelihood crisis. These consecutive rain failures have also been aggravated over the years by a lack of structural development support from local authorities.

The present drought is affecting the border region of Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia and Djibouti. The lack of drought preparedness structures and lethargy over a problem that has persisted for many years may affect the situation harder than it might otherwise have.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

The European Commission adopted an emergency decision in the first quarter of 2006 (EUR 5,000,000) covering Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Somalia, with focus on provision of food, protection of livestock assets, nutrition and health-related activities, as well as water activities in the region.

This decision will complement the ongoing activities under the recently adopted decisions for Kenya, the Somalia Global Plan and the ad hoc decision for Ethiopia (see country by country activities). No humanitarian intervention is presently being implemented in Djibouti.

LRRD

N/A

Eritrea

Humanitarian needs

The five year long unresolved border dispute with its neighbour, Ethiopia, has continuously led to decline in many sectors: livelihoods, health, food security, engendering greater levels of poverty. Eritrea is currently facing challenges posed by years of chronic drought, desertification, poor infrastructure and continued insecurity along the border with Ethiopia. Economic decline has led to worrying humanitarian indicators. A rate of 21.9% of GAM is estimated within children under 5 years old, even more in some areas, SAM rate is estimated at 4.1%. More than 50% of the women and children are reported to be chronically malnourished. The penury and poor quality of water, consequences of successive years of drought (2002, 2004 and partially 2005), insufficient and unbalanced distribution of rains, lack of water points and weak maintenance, are directly responsible for the worrying water-borne disease morbidity rates commonly found in rural areas. Losses of livestock have been commonly reported over the past years, leading to asset depletion and less and less resilience on the part of the rural communities to cope with harsh periods. An estimated 40% of the Eritrean population relies on livestock as its main source of income.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

The European Commission adopted in 2006 a decision of EUR 6,000,000. Despite an overall difficult environment due to administrative constraints and Government policies, partners have been able to maintain a satisfactory implementing capacity. The country has also benefited from the Regional Drought Preparedness decision.

DG ECHO's strategy was to provide support to civilian population trying to overcome drought consequences in a protracted deep crisis context. DG ECHO interventions targeted two main sectors, water and sanitation, and nutrition. The achievements obtained included (i) an improved access to safe drinking water, (ii) water, feeding and veterinary cares to animals in order to maintain a minimum livelihood’s level for the targeted households, (iii) nutritional cares, (iv) primary health care in remote rural areas of the country, (v) ICRC nationwide protection activities and (vi) assistance in forms of seeds and tools and livestock feeding in order to improve the coping capacities of highly food insecure persons.

LRRD

N/A.

Ethiopia

Humanitarian needs

The May 2005 national elections led to even greater instability in Ethiopia, with virtually the whole country being affected by regional conflicts and inter-clan conflicts. Beside the usual tense areas, such as the border between Afar and Somali regions, South Oromya, Somali and Gambella regions, new conflict areas appeared, creating new caseloads of IDPs[2]. The end of 2006 was marked by open hostilities between the Ethiopian military and the Union of Islamic Courts in Somalia, leading to the demise of the latter in Somalia and heavily engaging the Ethiopian military in this Gulf of Aden bordering territory.

Like for the Horn of Africa, the 2005/2006 drought posed a major threat to livelihoods as pastoralists, in remote, insecure areas, leading to a lack of pasture and grazing lands for pastoralists. Water, pasture and grazing lands remained insufficient, and high population growth is outweighed the carrying capacity of the land. Floods caused more needs amongst the vulnerable populations.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

Two funding decisions adopted in 2006 (EUR 3,000,000 from the humanitarian aid budget, and EUR 2,000,000 from the EDF budget) – were implemented. The country has also benefited from the Regional Drought Preparedness and the Regional Drought emergency decisions.

The overall intervention strategy was to address acute needs, occurring mainly on top of a chronic fragile context, in various situations, notably health crises (epidemics, primary health care and nutrition), drought and floods consequences and protection of civilians in conflict situations and emergencies. In addition, DG ECHO supported the overall coordination effort of the humanitarian community by OCHA.

LRRD

The EC Delegation supports nutritional, food aid and food security programmes in Ethiopia. The Drought Preparedness Programme provides the best assurance for LRRD.

Kenya

Humanitarian needs

As for the Horn of Africa as a whole, the nomadic pastoralists of the Northern provinces of Kenya are facing the decline of their livelihoods due to a series of concurrent factors: high population growth, poor services and transport infrastructure, lack of pasture and grazing for livestock due to adverse climate and failure by government to support and promote the livestock trade as well as to bolster livelihoods through active policies in this regard. The region houses some of the worst humanitarian indicators in the world. The refugee influx from Somalia late in the year caused increased needs in all sectors of intervention.

The floods and rift valley fever outbreak further undermined livelihoods although heavy water coverage in some areas may lead to a better harvest next time round.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

The European Commission adopted an emergency decision for food aid (EUR 5,050,000). Building on the emergency response, a further funding decision was adopted towards the end of the drought cycle for operations focusing on drought recovery for EUR 2,000,000. A further decision for EUR 2,000,000 was adopted to meet the needs of Somali refugees fleeing the conflict between the Transitional Federal Government and the Islamic Courts in Somalia. The country has also benefited from the Regional Drought Preparedness and the Regional Drought emergency decisions.

DG ECHO contributed to a World Food Program whereby DG ECHO's contribution enabled to reach 2,885,721 beneficiaries. More than half a million people received health services, nutritional support and water, and protection activities reached nearly 300,000 beneficiaries.

LRRD

The Drought Management Initiative (DMI) was adopted under 9th EDF and is set to link in with the Regional Drought Preparedness Decision, which in turn seeks to take over from the emergency Drought response or relief efforts funded in 2006. DG ECHO announced in its 2007 strategy that particular attention would be paid to LRRD in Kenya.

Somalia

Humanitarian needs

Years of civil war and confrontation with its neighbours have wracked Somalia, leaving it ungovernable and the main services and infrastructure care lacking, coupled with the black market trade in goods, its harsh climate and high population growth, have resulted in the country facing dire humanitarian needs, in virtually all sectors, notably in water and sanitation and health. The high malnutrition rates prevalent in other countries in the region apply here as well. A refugee caseload, largely as a result of the Ethiopian incursion, added itself to those existing in neighbouring countries, in Kenya. The needs increase when the security situation renders implementing difficult.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

The Commission adopted a Global Plan of EUR 10,000,000. DG ECHO focus has been in support of health, nutrition, water and sanitation, livestock, food security and support to the IDPs. The country has also benefited from the Regional Drought Preparedness and the Regional Drought emergency decisions. Partners' access and monitoring of the programmes remain the main challenges for delivering the EC humanitarian assistance to the Somali population.

Support to food security interventions was by far the sector that reached the largest number of beneficiaries. DG ECHO supported access to health care for 394,392 Somalis from out-patient consultation and treatment to nutrition and access to specialised in-patient services such as mother and child health care, paediatrics, nutrition and surgery.

DG ECHO was able to contribute to maintaining overall hospital mortality rates to below 4 % and cure rates at above 90 % and below emergency levels. Water and sanitation issues have been a huge challenge and received significantly more support than in 2005. Livestock support covered assistance to the veterinary services that were able to vaccinate 1.1 million head of livestock and treat at least 1.9 million head of livestock, all along the spine of Somalia supporting 140,000 people. This resulted in a reduction of disease and animal morbidity protecting against the loss to people's livelihoods. DG ECHO has supported a pilot caseload of IDPs in Mogadishu.

LRRD

LRRD is currently a major challenge for the EC as a whole, not least because of the different geographic coverage of the EC Delegation and DG ECHO in programming, but also because of the high levels of insecurity that characterise Somalia. Nevertheless, the EC Delegation remains firmly committed to Somalia and especially in the Rural Development and Social Services sectors.

Sudan

Humanitarian needs

The peace agreement of January 2005 putting an end to the 20-years civil war between the North and the South was positive but it also opened the door to the return of thousands of refugees and IDPs to an already depleted area, thus generating further humanitarian needs. One of the consequences of this has been a series of disease outbreaks: yellow fever, meningitis and cholera that required swift humanitarian response. The humanitarian situation in large parts of Sudan remained therefore highly precarious, requiring a continued substantial level of engagement to assist the most vulnerable populations.

The three year long conflict in Darfur has led to 3 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, including more than 2 million IDPs and 200,000 refugees in Chad. Since the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement in May 2006, the situation further deteriorated. The conflict has become increasingly fragmented, with rising insecurity, new waves of IDPs, as well as additional violations of International Humanitarian Law.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

The main objective was to provide assistance to save and protect lives among the most vulnerable and needy populations through integrated emergency assistance. In addition, DG ECHO support aimed at stabilising conditions of people and communities with severely strained coping mechanisms and, whenever possible, contributing to a gradual process of recovery through the enhancement of self-reliance. The main sectors of intervention were health and nutrition, water and environmental sanitation, emergency preparedness and response, household food security, protection and operational support and special mandates. DG ECHO continued covering the whole territory with a neutral approach and according to needs in strict respect of internationally recognised humanitarian principles.

The EUR 40,000,000 initially programmed for 2006 was increased by an additional amount of EUR 40,000,000 for the benefit of the victims of the crisis in Darfur.

Moreover, in order to respond to the worsening of the security, access and humanitarian situation in Darfur and Chad, DG ECHO decided to mobilise further EUR 17,000,000 to provide vital support to the most pressing needs. The country has also benefited from the Regional Drought Preparedness decision.

LRRD

DG ECHO continued to assist the Sudanese population in need, affected by conflict and natural disasters as long as alarming humanitarian indicators appeared. It is not excluded that with peace in the different regions of Sudan and a more stable situation, rehabilitation and sustainable development assistance will be able to gradually take over and build upon the relief work provided for decades.

LRRD possibilities have slowly but steadily increased since the resumption of formal cooperation, especially in the food security and water and sanitation sectors. Thus, DG ECHO has been able to decrease its support to operations in many areas of North Sudan and concentrate its efforts in the neediest regions (i.e. Darfur, the transitional areas and South Sudan). However, needs are so overwhelming in all sectors in, notably, South Sudan, that both humanitarian and development assistance will have to go hand in hand for a long while. Hopefully, in the next few years, LRRD continuum will become effective, eventually leading to take over of existing longer term DG ECHO interventions, while DG ECHO focuses on short term interventions to address new needs.

Uganda

Humanitarian needs

The year 2006 has seen a series of dramatic changes in the humanitarian situation in Northern Uganda. Peace talks started in Juba providing the best opportunity yet for a peace agreement between the Government and the rebel LRA. The impact of these talks on security and access was initially significant, leading to an improvement in humanitarian indicators and to improved freedom of movement of IDPs.

DG ECHO's priority in 2006 was to address the core emergency humanitarian needs in IDPs camps. Water and sanitation, health and nutrition, non-food items, shelter, food security, camp planning, protection, coordination, have been the main sectors of interventions. This approach in Uganda has been consistent with DG ECHO’s 2006 strategy (Needs based, LRRD, “forgotten crisis”, mainstreaming of Children and HIV/AIDS).

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

DG ECHO’s strategy for 2006 included two specific objectives:

- To relieve the suffering of IDPs, host communities and refugees in Uganda via improved water and sanitation, health and nutrition, livelihoods and food security, protection, camp planning, non-food items, and via the enhanced coordination of humanitarian interventions;

- To maintain a technical capacity in the field and to assess needs, appraise project proposals co-ordinate and monitor the implementing of operations.

The activities focused mainly on the following sectors: (1) Health with support to hospitals, Health Centres (HC), financing of mobile clinics and fight against Malaria and HIV/AIDS; (2) Water and sanitation: scale-up of water supply in IDP camps, latrine construction, hygiene promotion and cholera Response; (3) Food security with distribution of agricultural inputs, organisation of seeds fairs. Although much still remains to be done, DG ECHO has contributed to stabilising the nutrition rates and preventing people dying from hunger. DG ECHO has also continued to reduce dependency on food aid by increasing self-reliance of IDPs through livelihood security programmes, income generating activities and innovative stacked micro-gardening where land access is limited ; (4) Protection of children and women, Legal Aid provided for IDPs through Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance and (5) Infrastructure : the construction of the Patongo Airstrip has improved humanitarian access to the most difficult and insecure area in Northern Uganda and also serves a developmental purpose as a first example of successfully Linking Relief, Rehabilitation and Development (LRRD) in Pader district.

Throughout 2006 DG ECHO was able to consolidate and improve upon past years of the humanitarian response in-country. A EUR 15,000,000 decision has been entirely contracted. Additional EUR 4,000,000 have been mobilised from the EDF budget. Overall, two million IDPs were targeted by DG ECHO funded operations. The country has also benefited from the Regional Drought Preparedness decision.

LRRD

LRRD continued to be at the forefront of DG ECHO's strategy in Uganda. DG ECHO worked closely with DG DEV on its Rehabilitation programme for Northern Uganda (funded by the EDF). DG ECHO started to actively prepare to phase out and transfer its health programmes to the development sector over an estimated period of two to three years.

Central Africa/Great Lakes

Regional (Cassava Mosaic Virus)

Humanitarian needs

The cassava (manioc) plant is regarded as a major subsistence crop by a large percentage of the population in the Great Lakes. It is vital for both food security and income generation. It represents the main component of the daily menu of the most vulnerable people in the region and is their main staple in terms of per capita calories consumed. However, this plant is now facing an unusually severe cassava mosaic virus disease which has been spreading within the Great Lakes Region. The mosaic virus is having devastating effects on food security and is even responsible for localised malnutrition and starvation. In the absence of available solutions, the production has dropped from 3.5 millions to 0.5 million of tons within the last couple of years.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

The European Commission adopted a decision of EUR 1,000,000 in order to reduce the high rates of malnutrition in families that traditionally subsisted on cassava. The programme was linked up with the unique opportunity presented by the current return home of refugees and internally displaced people, following the recent improvements in security in the sub-region.

A reduction in malnutrition rates has been noted across the region. The regional approach has also had an important affect in reducing cross contamination from country to country.

LRRD

Multiplication is on-going thanks to the capacity building inherent in the programme. FAO will continue this programme on larger scale with other donors.

Burundi

Humanitarian needs

Chronic complex emergency arising from the previous 10 years of civil war and population displacements. However, following the latest peaceful elections and formation of a new government, measures are being taken to prepare for a major repatriation exercise. Fighting in Bujumbura Rural seems also to have reduced to a merely symbolic status. Living conditions for the population remain difficult, with the country having experienced a decade of war and displacement, restricted access to healthcare and reduced quality of available health services. Burundi currently occupies the first place in DG ECHO’s vulnerability rankings

There are 117,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) remaining around the countryside. Burundi also hosts two camps of Congolese refugees. Both groups need care and maintenance support. The country is also vulnerable to the effects of regional pressures and instability.

Generally, the displaced, orphans, children and female-headed households, as well as the Batwa minority (1%), are among the most vulnerable groups within Burundi society. In addition to this, the past years have seen the need for rapid interventions for recurrent epidemics of cholera and meningitis in several provinces.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

The principal objective is to save and preserve life in the aftermath of a ten-year civil war in Burundi, entailing major loss of life, physical, psychological or social suffering and material damage.

DG ECHO’s intervention strategy for 2006 was focused on the following specific objectives:

- IDPs/Returnees/Refugees : to provide multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations; comprising displaced persons, returnees, refugees and host communities in areas directly affected by conflict. Special attention will be given to children, adolescents and women.

- Special mandates: to support international agencies in the execution of their special mandates.

This assistance was channeled through a multi-sector programme implemented by NGOs, United Nations agencies and the Red Cross (ICRC) for an amount of EUR 17,000,000.

The impact of the programme has been considerable for Burundian IDPs and repatriated refugees, Congolese refugees and Rwandan asylum seekers. In the health sector, 2,400,000 million people were able to receive treatment. Health centers and public hospitals were supplied with essential medicines. In addition, seeds and seed protection food aid were distributed. Within the framework of the fight against cholera, almost 120,000 people were provided with potable water and specialized treatment centers as well as receiving hygiene education. Lastly, people benefited from DG ECHO supported protection activities.

LRRD

In 2006, mine clearance and psycho-social activities have already been taken over by donors, in particular by Belgian cooperation. Certain water and sanitation activities previously financed by DG ECHO have been taken over by the Delegation's "Water Facility" programme and by Swiss cooperation.

A two-year financing proposal of EUR 7,800,000 in the health sector, funded from the 9th EDF B-envelope, will be decided in 2007.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Humanitarian needs

The East of the country has remained significantly affected by the effects of the war. Essential social services continue to be neglected and there is a resultant problem of food insecurity, poor health and social dislocation. Nonetheless in 2006 the country has enjoyed successful elections and improved security with many regions in the East now beginning to achieve some stability. This has allowed hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people and tens of thousands of refugees to return home. However, this return is proving particularly difficult as the home areas have been heavily devastated by war. In the few areas where there is still insecurity, civilians are subject to harassment and violence which forces them to flee their homes and sources of economic livelihood. This was notably the case in central Katanga where some 300,000 people were affected by a local conflict. Women and children are being disproportionately affected by the violence. The poor logistics infrastructure remained a huge impediment to the provision of humanitarian aid.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

The principal objective of DG ECHO's strategy was to contain the mortality and morbidity rates among the targeted population groups within emergency thresholds and to support the resettlement and stabilization process where possible.

The specific objectives aimed at providing (1) population of targeted health zones with an equitable access to a minimum package of basic healthcare, with special emphasis on women and children, (2) displaced, resettling and host families with an integrated package of community-based assistance designed to respond to immediate needs, while paving the way for a rapid return to productive activity and thus contributing to the stabilization of conflict –affected areas.

Recent surveys have shown that mortality and malnutrition figures have fallen back to normal in the majority of areas covered by the programme. Also some 1 million IDPs and 40,000 refugees have returned home successfully thanks to the support given to programmes promoting re-integration (health, shelter, food security, basic infrastructure and road rehabilitation). On the other hand some 30,000 people a month had to be provided with emergency assistance due to the effects of continued conflict. The crisis in Katanga, which was particularly severe, required an additional decision for 5 MEURO in order to provide 130,000 people with nutritional support and other basic life saving assistance. This more recent decision is still on-going.

LRRD

In the course of the year DG ECHO was able to hand over some 6 health programmes to the 9th EDF and two to the World Bank. Discussions are on-going to hand over more health programmes in newly stabilised areas, notably to USAID in South Kivu. DG ECHO was also closely involved with DG DEV and the Delegation to assist with the programming of the 10th EDF.

Democratic Republic of the Congo – Echo-flight

Humanitarian needs

The humanitarian needs in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as well as the logistic difficulties of operating there are highlighted in the section above. In DRC there is no safe and reliable linkage between the supply and personnel entry points and the main humanitarian destinations. Overland travel is dangerous and time consuming, or even impossible due to security constraints or absence of infrastructure. Following the improvement in the security situation in DRC, DG ECHO has, also in geographic terms, expanded its engagement in the country. This has created an additional need for air transport.

The use of ECHO Flight services enables humanitarian NGOs to reduce inventory stockpiles at field locations which often run the risk of confiscation or theft by armed bandits or local militia. It increases productivity of field personnel due to the ability to plan rest and recreation rotations at an appropriate frequency; and it increases the quality of humanitarian operations as supervisory visits can be conducted more frequently. In addition, an airborne stand-by evacuation capacity remains for many agencies a sine qua non for continuing project implementing.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

Principal objective : To facilitate the implementing of humanitarian and post-emergency development projects in difficult or inaccessible areas.

Specific objectives :

- To provide safe, reliable, efficient and cost-effective humanitarian air transport capacity.

- To create a technical assistance capacity in the field, to assess needs, appraise operational proposals and to coordinate and monitor the implementing of operations.

After a tender process DG ECHO entered into a service agreement with DAC aviation, a private operator, to provide suitable aircraft and operate a safe and reliable hub and spoke service to meet the objectives. This was achieved using three aircraft operating a mixture of a fixed and a flexible schedule.

LRRD

There are no current plans to hand over this operation to DG DEV/Delegation but eventually it may become a possibility.

Tanzania

Humanitarian needs

Tanzania continues to host the largest refugee population on the African continent. The refugees are almost entirely dependent on humanitarian aid for survival. At the beginning of 2006 there were 348,000 refugees mainly from Burundi and DRC living in 12 camps in Western Tanzania under UNHCR protection. During 2006 one camp closed and the refugee population decreased by approximately 62,000, due mainly to Burundian repatriation. Despite major improvements in the refugees’ countries of origin, most refugees were not yet able to return home. Humanitarian needs include food, water, shelter, protection and health care.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

DG ECHO’s first aim was to continue the support it had provided for several years to this refugee “Care and maintenance” operation. The second aim was to support facilitated repatriation of refugees to transit centres in their country of origin. The objectives of DG ECHO’s Tanzania Global Plan 2006 were met. An amount of EUR 11,500,000 was allocated to the refugee programme. Programmes were supported in the sectors of water, sanitation, transport, health, nutrition, shelter, protection and repatriation. The European Commission continued to be UNHCR’s key donor for this programme and 348,000 refugees, as well as some members of the local community near the camps, benefited from this funding. Specific efforts were made to target vulnerable groups, such as unaccompanied minors, disabled people and elderly persons without family support. Attention was paid to gender-related problems, via the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Programme. Reproductive health services continued to receive support, with Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV programmes running in every camp.

In the sphere of repatriation, the programme was well organised, using Project Profile registration system as much as possible and achieving the goal of voluntary return in safety and dignity. In 2006 nearly 42,000 Burundians were repatriated as well as nearly 17,000 Congolese. The general and under-5 mortality rates remained below 1/1000/month and vaccination coverage was over 99%. A second, ad hoc, decision of EUR 4,550,000 was adopted at the end of 2006 using funds from the 9th EDF B-envelope for similar objectives.

LRRD

This has been partially addressed by EDF expenditure in three areas: the Special Programme for Refugee-Affected Areas (SPRAA, EUR 2,000,000; 2001-2007), Article 73 Cotonou support for the longer-term camp sectors of education, environment, health and water/sanitation (EUR 4,000,000; 2003-2005) and the transfer of food aid to the EC Food Security Budget Line, administered by EuropeAid Co-operation Office (since the end of 2003).

Southern Africa

Angola

Humanitarian needs

In 2006, Angola saw the emergence of several epidemics, measles, wild polio and above all cholera. The first outbreaks of cholera started in Luanda in February, and quickly spread to 15 of the 19 provinces. Initial mortality rates were very high, reaching 9% of cases in Benguela. By the end of the year, more than 70,000 cases had been recorded, of which 2,700 fatalities. Such epidemics are the consequence of extremely poor sanitation and access to water, overcrowded conditions and the chronic weakness of the health system.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

Humanitarian needs in the country, which are still substantial though now largely covered by longer-term transitional programmes, are monitored from Harare.

The widespread cholera epidemic resulted in the adoption in April and May of two emergency decisions (EUR 1,500,000 each) in order to tackle and contain the outbreak.

LRRD

N/A

Mozambique

Humanitarian needs

Mozambique is a country with an extremely high level of chronic vulnerability affecting a large proportion of the population. This vulnerability is compounded by the effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, as well as various climatic phenomena such as erratic rainfall patterns, cyclones, floods and drought. Drought was a major problem in 2006, with the arid zones in the South and Centre of the country experiencing serious difficulties of access to water.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

A EUR 2,000,000 funding decision, adopted in 2006 on the 9th EDF B-envelope provided support to alleviating the effects of drought by funding water and sanitation interventions. Activities included the rehabilitation of wells and boreholes, provision of water filters, cholera prevention and treatment.

LRRD

N/A

Zambia

Humanitarian needs

Zambia suffers high levels chronic vulnerability, compounded by the effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic affecting a large proportion of the population. Drought was also a major problem in 2006, mainly in the South and West of the country, where most livelihoods are based on subsistence agriculture and animal husbandry. The deterioration in livelihoods was compounded by a serious outbreak of the cattle disease known as Corridor Disease.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

A funding decision for EUR 2,200,000, adopted in 2006, aimed to prevent further deterioration of livelihoods by funding water and sanitation, emergency food security and animal vaccination interventions.

Zimbabwe

Humanitarian needs

In 2006 Zimbabwe continued to be immersed in a profound crisis. The country has been suffering from chronic food insecurity since the 2002 drought. The problems common to the Southern African sub-region – high rates of people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, declining soil productivity and erratic rainfall – are exacerbated in Zimbabwe by the adverse implementing of the Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP), wider inappropriate economic policies and rapid decline of social services. The situation of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), victims of the countrywide 'clean up' operation in 2005 remained a subject of serious concern. Despite improved food production in 2006, which was much closer to the needs of the country than in 2005, an estimated 1.9 million people were in need of food assistance in the agricultural season 2006/2007. This includes the resident vulnerable population, in particular people living with HIV/AIDS, orphans and other vulnerable children (OVC) as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

The principal objective of 2006 humanitarian interventions was to mitigate the socio-economic breakdown and deteriorating situation of vulnerable groups in Zimbabwe. The European Commission adopted a Global Plan for Zimbabwe of EUR 12,000,000. Based on the strategy developed by DG ECHO and its partners, the Global Plan focused on reinforcing immediate food security needs at household level; on increasing access to safe water sources and basic sanitation facilities and on provision of an integrated assistance, including non-food items, water and sanitation and HIV/AIDS prevention to IDPs.

The vulnerable groups, including people living with HIV/AIDS, orphans and other vulnerable children (OVC) and IDPs were provided with the improved food security conditions; increased access to safe water and sanitation facilities, and improved health, hygiene and HIV/AIDS protection knowledge.

LRRD

The signature of the 9th EDF country strategy paper (CSP) remains suspended by the Council Decision of 18 February 2002. The EC financial support is re-oriented to programmes in direct benefit of the Zimbabwean population, social sectors, democratisation, respect for human rights and the rule of law. The evolution of the situation in the country has not permitted to meet the conditions for the full resumption of the EC development cooperation. Due to above it is not possible to engage in a comprehensive LRRD process in Zimbabwe. Main pre-condition to envisage the LRRD programmes in future is an improvement and stabilization of the political situation.

West Africa

Regional response to epidemics

Humanitarian needs

The occurrence of epidemics is persistent in West Africa, representing 40% of disasters occurring in the region from 1975 to 2003. Epidemics are more frequent in West Africa than elsewhere, with 20% of the world epidemic alerts for 2% of the world population being at serious risk from outbreaks of cholera, meningitis, hepatitis E, viral haemorrhagic fever and yellow fever. The region is also seeing an increased risk of avian influenza epidemic with confirmed animal cases in Niger, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Nigeria where the first human case was confirmed in January 2007. During the 2006 rainy season, cholera outbreaks occurred in Sierra Leone, Niger, Liberia and Guinea. Lassa fever cases were reported in Liberia and Sierra Leone. In 2006 Burkina Faso suffered one of the biggest meningitis epidemics in the last years. None of them required the mobilisation of ECHO funds. The increased circulation of yellow Fever Virus has been confirmed by the onset of Yellow Fever cases in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Togo.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

In 2006, a EUR 1,250,000 decision was adopted, in order to improve the response capacity so that reported outbreaks are rapidly assessed by qualified personnel, and to ensure that operations aimed at containing and controlling confirmed epidemics are implemented swiftly. In Togo, DG ECHO supports WHO for the implementing of a vaccination campaign against Yellow Fever. In Liberia, after years of vaccination program disruption high risk of measles epidemic was contained thanks to DG ECHO support to UNICEF vaccination campaign. Rapid evaluation and timely response are important to epidemics containment and reducing the risk of becoming major humanitarian emergencies. In this perspective, DG ECHO funded the UN agency "World Health Organisation" to conduct a rapid field risk assessments during the initial phases of the epidemics facilitating the operational response and resources mobilization.

LRRD

External support to fight against epidemics in West Africa is still needed. Outbreaks detection and control intervention have been improved in the region mainly due to better epidemic surveillance and Early Warning Systems but the availability of donors support has been reduced and Governments contingency plans are rarely or not enough funded.

Support to regional aspects of humanitarian aid

a) Regional reinforcement of child protection issues

Humanitarian needs

Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire have experienced massive internal conflicts or have been affected by conflicts in neighbouring countries. Many children have been directly affected due to forced recruitment in army groups, separation from their families or sexual exploitation. The absence of law and order and the cross border mobility of these children require child protection organizations to strengthen their institutional network and information exchange on a regional level.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

In 2006, EUR 400,000 was allocated for regional child protection activities in West Africa dedicated to reinforcing specialist agencies and institutions. A regional database of protection incidents has been implemented. Reviews and best practice guidelines on psychosocial support and mental health, gender based violence have been developed and adopted among the participating organizations.

LRRD

Regional protection issues have slowly shifted to the human right sphere and long term and institutional projects have been promoted towards other donors like OFDA[3] or SIDA[4]. DG ECHO will cease support for this sector in 2007 as the regional institutions are now believed to be in strong position to support and promote their activities themselves.

b) Improved humanitarian access to the population through a humanitarian air service in the sub-region.

With very poor road infrastructure and very difficult access especially in the rainy season, improving access to those in need of humanitarian aid is a challenge in the region. A reliable and appropriate air service is essential for humanitarian workers to accomplish their mission.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

More than 8,000 humanitarian workers have been transported over Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire with a EUR 500,000 contribution.

LRRD

As peace returns to the region, investment in road infrastructure has restarted and the humanitarian needs to move IDPs or resettle refugees have been greatly reduced. However needs for a humanitarian air service continues in Liberia.

Chad

Humanitarian needs

From April 2003 to mid-2004, some 215,000 Sudanese refugees from Darfur poured into the Chad frontier provinces of Ennedi, Wadi Fira and Ouaddai, which are among the country's poorest regions, suffering from chronic food insecurity and lacking the resources and capacity to accommodate large numbers of people. Since then there has been no further major influx of refugees. The Sudanese refugees are completely dependent on international aid. The armed groups that have established themselves in Eastern Chad and the spread of bandit raids since autumn 2005 have meant an increase in violence against the civilian population. In Ouaddaï in particular, ethnic alliances were forged along similar divides that underlie the Darfur crisis. Some areas have suffered depopulation, and humanitarian agencies are now trying to help some 100,000 displaced persons. The Southern provinces of Moyen-Chari and Logone Oriental have since 2003 hosted some 48,000 refugees from the Central African Republic. No large-scale repatriation of refugees or promotion of the return of displaced persons can be foreseen for the near future in either the East or the South of Chad. 2006 saw an increase in cases of encroachment on the humanitarian space, and particularly on the civilian character of the camps. Eastern Chad has become a theatre of military operations. The general trend in the situation highlighted the need to consolidate the contingency and security plans.

It is against this background that DG ECHO remained engaged in Chad.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

A Global Plan of EUR 13,500,000 was adopted in 2006 and an additional allocation of EUR 1,000,000 was released from the 9th EDF B-envelope to help finance the World Food Programme air service.

Through its operational partners, DG ECHO maintained multi-sector assistance to refugees in the camps of Eastern and Southern Chad. It also supported targeted food security, health and nutrition operations to help meet the needs of the displaced persons and the most vulnerable sections of the population living in Eastern Chad.

The continuing rise in acts of violence and banditry raises doubts about the ability to satisfactorily maintain the humanitarian aid programmes in the camps of Eastern Chad. Precautionary evacuations of non-essential humanitarian staff were carried out in January and April 2006 in the most sensitive areas.

The outlook for the Darfur crisis and the risk that insecurity in the sub-region will last indefinitely mean that the sustainability of the projects must be seriously considered and an optimum cost-effectiveness ratio sought. The operations carried out in 2006 provided evidence that the beneficiaries will not be able to maintain the existing basic services by themselves if the humanitarian workers in Eastern Chad are evacuated or leave.

LRRD

The arrival since June 2005 of some 18,000 refugees in Southern Chad, in addition to the 30,000 already there since 2003, has destabilised the methodology put in place by the various partner organisations. The strategy of reducing assistance and promoting self-sufficiency mechanisms still applies in the Yaroungou camp (Moyen Chari) whereas a semi-emergency exists in the Amboko camp, its extension and the new camps at Gondjé and Dossei (Logone Oriental). With a view to facilitating the link between relief, rehabilitation and development, EUR 4,000,000 has been released from the 9th EDF B envelope in support of a project to revive agriculture in Yaroungou refugee camp and the surrounding area.

Ivory Coast

Humanitarian needs

The ongoing crisis in Ivory Coast has had a dramatic impact on the population with massive disruption of social services and many people displaced. The health sector in particular was badly affected as well as access to clean water and sanitation facilities. Food security was a problem and many of the most vulnerable in particular women and children were at risk of violence and exploitation.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

Projects supported by the DG ECHO decision for EUR 5,200,000 in 2006 covered assistance in the food security sector, protection of livelihoods, support for basic health facilities, improved access to clean water and measures to improve the protection of children at risk.

LRRD

Good coordination with the European Commission's Delegation and joint planning of the articulation of aid instruments resulted in an effective LRRD strategy permitting DG ECHO to reduce the level of its humanitarian activities and the handover to longer-term development aid.

Guinea

Humanitarian needs

Hundreds of thousands of refugees were pushed across the Guinean border by wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia in addition to some population movements from Ivory Coast but on a smaller scale. The end of the wars and the stabilisation of the situation in those countries allowed the initiation of a long repatriation process, still going on in 2006.

In December 2006, around 22.000 refugees (Liberian and Ivorian) were still completely dependant on humanitarian assistance for their survival. The humanitarian situation of the communities around the camps has been deteriorating as a result of the socio-economic and political crisis in the country. Two general strikes and demonstrations have taken place during 2006, generating strong reaction from the police and military forces. Many civilians have been killed or injured, and Human Rights have been clearly transgressed.

The poor condition of the roads has maintained the Guinea Forestière region completely isolated during the rainy season with the consequent increase of prices and also with problems of deployment of humanitarian assistance to the camps. Cholera epidemic has become endemic in Guinea, and 3.230 cases with 218 deaths have been reported in 2006.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

The EUR 1,500,000 allocated to Guinea was used to promote the repatriation process and assist refugees and surrounding communities with special focus on vulnerable groups. In addition to the support to repatriation of Liberian refugees, basic services like health, water and sanitation, and protection have been guaranteed during 2006 thanks to DG ECHO funding support. These services also benefited the communities close to the camps. The deadline fixed by UNHCR to finish the assisted repatriation of the Liberian refugees is June 2007. Despite the reduction of the assistance (food distribution has been reduced and it is only supplied to the vulnerable, the Liberian education programme has been shifted to the Guinean curriculum), the remaining refugees in the camps are reticent to return.

In December, a EUR 2,000,000 ad hoc decision has been adopted for Liberia and Guinea, out of which EUR 400,000 was earmarked for Guinea to maintain assistance to the refugees and vulnerable population.

LRRD

The European Commission planned to start implementing a project of EUR 12,000,000 to support community rehabilitation, peace building and income generating activities in Guinea where DG ECHO is active, but due to several constraints, the programme has been delayed. DG ECHO will maintain its support to care and maintenance activities in the camps until the refugees leave, but activities are also planned for local communities, in order to favour the integration of refuges into the communities and with the aim to cover possible gaps until development programmes come into place at least in areas where DG ECHO is active.

Guinea Bissau/Senegal

Humanitarian needs

In March/April 2006, following the outbreak of violence in the Casamance region covering North of Guinea Bissau and South of Senegal, resulting in the displacement of 8,500 people and more than 20,000 people totally isolated because of the conflict.

In the middle of the harvest season, and in an already very poor area, people could not go on with agricultural activities anymore. The conflict exacerbated the vulnerability of a population just recovering from an internal conflict in Guinea Bissau.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

The objective of the EUR 1,000,000 emergency decision was to assist the displaced and the isolated population providing them with immediate health care and water supply, as well as food and non food items, protection, and assistance to restore livelihoods destroyed by the conflict.

LRRD

It has been a one shot decision, with one of the two operations implemented in coordination with the EC Delegation in Bissau in the frame of a more sustainable food security approach.

Liberia

Humanitarian needs

The 1989-2003 civil war killed around 250,000 people and forced the displacement of a third of the 3 million population, who become either internally displaced or refugees in neighbouring countries. Besides the direct human suffering and material impact, the conflict also had a huge psychological impact on those who suffered, perpetrated or witnessed violence. Many children were enrolled as child soldiers, people became victim of torture and women suffered from large-scale sexual violence. 3 years after the signature of the peace agreements, the majority of the population remains without access to adequate services including healthcare, drinking water, sanitation, shelter and livelihood opportunities. With the increasing confidence in the stability of the country after the successful presidential elections end of 2005, the return of 314,000 IDPs to their areas of origin was completed and the repatriation movement of refugees accelerated with consequent extra pressure on the scarce existing basic social infrastructures in the areas of return.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

Through a EUR 16,400,000 Global Plan, DG ECHO has been fully engaged in continuing the humanitarian response related to the voluntary and assisted return of tens of thousands of Liberians and the reconstruction of their communities. DG ECHO has been targeting refugees, IDPs, vulnerable sections of the population like female-headed households and children, and host communities. The operations have contributed to restoring access to basic services such as water and sanitation in rural areas but also in urban Monrovia, access to health care including mental health care, and to improving food security. Attention has been given to protection issues such as activities to reduce gender based violence and assistance for survivors, tracing and reunification of separated children etc.

In August, a EUR 1,400,000 ad hoc decision has been adopted with funds from the 9th EDF B-envelope to support people returning home and starting their livelihoods in their area of origin mainly through providing assistance for subsistence farming and access to safe drinking water.

In December 2006 a EUR 2,000,000 ad hoc decision has been adopted for Liberia and Guinea, out of which EUR 1,600,000 was earmarked for Liberia to assist refugees, returnees and vulnerable population. The operations under this decision will be implemented in 2007.

LRRD

Despite the positive developments, Liberia still requires humanitarian assistance and support until the Government has the capacity to take over from international agencies in a Linking Relief, Rehabilitation and Development context (LRRD). 2006 has been the first year of transition in various sectors. Coordination has taken place with the other development services of the Commission in order to identify timely complementarities in the areas of return. In the selection of its partners, DG ECHO took into consideration their capacity to stay beyond the humanitarian crisis, and cover the transitional period. However, the lack of capacity of the newly elected government to elaborate policies and provide for key basic services has delayed the adoption of clear strategies to upon which assistance could be based.

Niger

Humanitarian needs

The carryover of vulnerability from the nutritional crisis in 2005, concerns about the massive damage done to the coping mechanisms of the most affected households and continued very high Global Acute Malnutrition rates justified the maintenance of humanitarian aid in 2006. In February 2006, the Government of Niger declared that 14% (1.8 million people) of the population were at high risk from malnutrition. The 2005 crisis was the result of a combination of factors (spells of drought and locusts as well as a sudden trade imbalance with food produce moving to richer neighbouring countries, leading to net food-deficits and price hikes), impacting on an already precarious situation of poverty and illiteracy.

Therapeutic and supplementary feeding programmes, improved access to primary health care and short-term food security activities were needed.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

DG ECHO allocated a total of EUR 12,000,000 to assist in bringing relief to those most in need. Cure rates approached 80%, saving the lives of many of the 63,600 severely malnourished children treated. The positive achievements of these efforts and those of the other humanitarian agencies that were active in Niger can be seen from the drop in the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate which was estimated as over 15% in 2005 was estimated at just over 10% at the end of 2006.

LRRD

DG ECHO’s interventions were programmed in close collaboration with the other Commission aid services and a road map outlining the articulation of the various aid instruments was agreed in February 2006. This covered the DG ECHO commitments in 2006 and the mobilisation of extra European Development Fund (EDF) resources for food security and a renewed commitment to food security in the 10th EDF Country Strategy Paper for Niger. A DG ECHO liaison office was opened in the European Commission Delegation in Niamey.

Caribbean and Pacific

The Caribbean region is prone to frequent disasters, especially hurricanes and floods. Some islands also experience volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis. The region's vulnerability is accentuated by high population density, fast demographic growth and much poverty. This combination results in vulnerable communities with few coping capacities in the event of disaster.

DG ECHO continued to support community-based Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction, through its DIPECHO programme. It also launched fresh support for the Pan American Disaster Response Unit, funded flood responses in Suriname and Haiti, and maintained its office in the Dominican Republic. DG ECHO has worked with DG DEV, EuropeAid Co-operation Office and the EC Delegations, assisting them with inclusion of disaster management and risk reduction in their development agendas, and several complementary programmes of institutional support and capacity-building were recently launched in the region.

Funding covered the following issues / countries:

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Strengthening disaster management capacity in the Caribbean region

Humanitarian needs

The Caribbean region experiences frequent disasters, and there is need for rapid response. The Red Cross national societies are often in the front line, when a catastrophe occurs.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

DG ECHO launched fresh support for the Pan American Disaster Response Unit, run by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, in order to strengthen the disaster response and management capacity in the Caribbean region.

Dominican Republic

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

The Dominican Republic houses the DG ECHO office for the Caribbean region, based in Santo Domingo. This office provides Technical Assistance essential to DG ECHO's operations in the region, including need assessment, monitoring and responding to disasters. To ensure the functioning of this office for the duration of a year, an amount of EUR 250.000 was made available.

Haiti

Humanitarian needs

Sudden torrential rain caused flooding in North Western part of Haiti in September and October 2006, seriously affecting 1,000 families, who needed emergency relief, due to damaged or destroyed houses and crops.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

An emergency decision was adopted in order to provide assistance in the sectors of water/sanitation, food security and essential non-food items.

Suriname

Humanitarian needs

Heavy seasonal rains resulted in severe floods in May 2006, submerging many schools, clinics and homes. More than 20,000 people were seriously affected.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

DG ECHO allocated funds under an emergency decision for activities in the sectors of health, water/sanitation and food security/nutrition to cover substantial livestock and crop losses.

Eastern Europe, Russian Federation, Southern Caucasus, Central Asia, including Mongolia

Funding in this geographical region was to provide humanitarian assistance in the following countries:

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Northern Caucasus

Humanitarian needs

The situation evolved quite significantly in Chechnya over 2006: security has much improved in the Republic, especially in Grozny, where an impressive reconstruction effort took place which already started to dramatically change the aspect of the formerly bombed-out capital. In parallel with the socio-economic improvements, however, little progress took place in terms of human rights.

The improvement in the general situation allowed DG ECHO to phase out from certain sectors and reduce other activities. However, considering the extent of destructions and hardship suffered by the population and with more than 60% of the people unemployed, there remained significant humanitarian needs which were not attended by the authorities and which justified the continuation of a significant humanitarian aid programme.

In Ingushetia and in Dagestan, the number of persons displaced by the conflict remained rather stable, with no major movements of return to Chechnya. These families being extremely vulnerable, humanitarian needs remain pending for durable solutions.

As for the Chechen refugees hosted in Azerbaijan, their situation did not change in 2006 and they remain a forgotten and under-assisted caseload with significant protection problems and no durable solutions in sight, which justified a continued support from DG ECHO.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

This forgotten humanitarian crisis remained one of DG ECHO’s operational priorities in 2006, with funding totalling EUR 26,000,000. The European Commission continued to be the main donor in the region.

Throughout the Northern Caucasus, the activities focused on protection, notably legal counselling for IDPs, returnees and residents. Food distribution continued, although a drastic decrease took place, with basic food aid provided to the most vulnerable people in Chechnya and school-feeding to primary school in Chechnya. Shelter rehabilitation projects were increased in order to allow IDPs who had returned to Chechnya and who were displaced for a second time to return to their homes and restart their lives. 500 households received construction materials for the basic rehabilitation of their house in Chechnya.

DG ECHO implemented its phase-out plan in the water and sanitation sector, with a gradual transition of water trucking and sanitation activities in Grozny and in spontaneous settlements for IDPs in Ingushetia to local authorities.

Due to the absence of any demining so far and the high prevalence of accidents, especially with children, DG ECHO continued to fund a mine risk education programme which benefited 100,000 people, including 20,000 children.

In order to answer the very serious issue of war-related trauma, DG ECHO funded a significant psychological programme which reached 2,500 beneficiaries, of which 1,600 children.

Working conditions for humanitarian staff remained very difficult, due to bureaucratic hassle and access restrictions. However, there was on the whole a noticeable progress in access to Chechnya due to a certain stabilisation there.

LRRD

The special TACIS programme of EUR 20,000,000 for the North Caucasus which was supposed to start this year was delayed due to the fact that it was signed by the Russian party only in September.

Southern Caucasus (Georgia)

Humanitarian needs

Although the situation improved in Georgia, the country was still faced with unmet humanitarian needs due to the frozen conflict around Abkhazia. The situation there remained very precarious. Despite some improvements due to the resumption of Russian tourism, the economy of the self-declared Republic remained in shambles and the absence of a conflict settlement and of recognised authorities as well as the international embargo hindered any sustainable development.

In Western Georgia, the overall economic situation benefited from the general improvement in the country, but the region was still affected indirectly by the conflict with Abkhazia and the high number of displaced people there, many of whom have been living in run-down collective centres for more than ten years with limited or no economic opportunities.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

With EUR 2,000,000 funding, DG ECHO continued to finance food-security and income-generation projects in Western Georgia, especially Abkhazia, as well as the basic and most urgent rehabilitation of collective centres for IDPs and a pilot project of shelter rehabilitation for Georgian returnees in Abkhazia. It also supported the last phase of a mother-and-child health project in Samegrelo, the region most affected by the unresolved conflict with Abkhazia.

LRRD

The Commission, through its Rehabilitation budget line, committed EUR 4,000,000 in support to recovery projects around the dividing line between Abkhazia and Georgia proper. Close consultations were held between DG ECHO and the European Delegation in Tbilisi in order to see how the two budget lines could be as complementary as possible, and how the Rehabilitation budget line could progressively take over some of the projects supported by DG ECHO. This took place to some extent, but unfortunately, due to delays, part of the Rehabilitation money had to be allocated to another project, which did not allow yielding the full results of the process engaged.

Mongolia

No funding decision was adopted, in the absence of any new natural disaster. However, the two food-security programmes financed under the 2005 decision (EUR 900,000) were mostly implemented in 2006.

Tajikistan

Humanitarian needs

Tajikistan continues to recover from the disastrous effects of civil war from 1992 to1997, and drought between 1999 and 2001. Progress has, however, been made over the last few years in terms of both political stability and strong economic growth. This transformation has allowed for the refocusing of efforts away from humanitarian needs and towards longer term poverty relief and sustainable economic development. Underlying humanitarian needs will, however, persist in a country which still has 64% of its population living below the poverty line, limited access to safe drinking water, and an overstrained health system.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

In May 2006, the European Commission adopted its final package of humanitarian assistance in favour of vulnerable populations in Tajikistan. This decision (EUR 5,000,000) constituted the final action in DG-ECHO's three-step phase out from the country. This amount represented a further stepping down by EUR 1,000,000 from the previous year, and focussed again on health, water and sanitation, and food assistance interventions. In particular, a big push was made in the health sector, notably through the delivery of a functional national medicines procurement system which will improve population access to quality health services and sustainable access to essential medicines.

Other focussed areas of intervention included targeting acute child malnourishment through support to therapeutic feeding centres, sanitation and hygiene education in schools, rehabilitation of rural water-drinking supply systems, and small scale agricultural production and income generation schemes.

LRRD

Handover of project responsibilities and equipment will take place during the finalisation of actions under the 2006 funding decision (expected throughout spring and autumn 2007). Where possible, DG ECHO has sought to link its operations to poverty alleviation efforts delivered through EuropeAid Co-operation Office in order to ensure a smooth transition from relief to rehabilitation and development. DG ECHO has also worked closely in the field with other development actors in order to ensure a smooth transition and help plug gaps in service as best as possible. It is likely that some isolated pockets of humanitarian need will remain, particularly in rural areas, as a result of widespread poverty throughout the country. However, at the same time it is clear that the humanitarian instrument of the European Commission is not appropriate to address these systemic problems caused by poverty.

An evaluation of LRRD in Tajikistan is envisaged during the course of 2007. DG ECHO will continue to remain active in Tajikistan through its DIPECHO Action Plan for Central Asia, and will continue to monitor the humanitarian situation in Tajikistan and remain alert to any deterioration.

Mediterranean and Middle East

Funding in these regions was to provide humanitarian assistance in respect of the following crises:

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Algeria – Sahrawi refugees

Humanitarian needs

Sahrawi refugees who have lived for the past 30 years in camps in the desert in the South-Western Algerian region of Tindouf continued to depend essentially on international aid in all sectors, from food to health, from water and sanitation to shelter.

On 11 February 2006, the camps were seriously affected by flash rains which flooded the camps, destroying communal infrastructure, such as schools and health centres, damaging about 25% of the tents and destroying 50% of mud-brick houses which are used by the refugees and flushing away their belongings, including the food rations received from the World Food Programme.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

In 2006, two funding decisions were adopted. Firstly, a primary emergency decision of EUR 900,000 to provide food rations, shelter and non food items. Secondly, a "regular" financing decision of EUR 10,000,000. About half of the funding is dedicated to the provision of food to the refugees. This includes the provision of both basic and fresh food. The provision of fresh food, for the second consecutive year, aims at increasing the diversity in the food intake, especially on micro-nutrients and vitamins, as was recommended by the 2005 WFP/UNHCR nutritional survey. The other half of the funding covers multiple other needs such as: hygiene kits, medicines, water and sanitation and shelter (tents). The decision also attempts to improve the sectoral approaches to humanitarian aid, in a context of a long-term protracted and relatively stable humanitarian crisis.

LRRD

Not applicable in the circumstances prevailing in refugee camps.

Occupied Palestinian Territories (West Bank and Gaza Strip), Lebanon, Jordan and Syria

Humanitarian needs

a) Related to the Palestinian crisis

Following the Hamas victory in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections in January 2006, the Government of Israel stopped the transfer of Palestinian value added taxes and customs duties it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority (PA) which account for around 50% of the PA budget, precipitating thus a fiscal crisis. Consequently, around 161,000 PA employees who directly support another one million people (over 25% of the Palestinian population) did not receive any salaries any longer[5]. At the same time, main donors have reduced various categories of foreign assistance, mainly budgetary support to the PA. Consequently, the humanitarian situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip has continued to worsen: household incomes have fallen, assets and coping mechanisms exhausted, and living conditions further eroded by the considerable decline in the quality of essential services like health and education and the economic and/or physical inability of most Palestinians to access them. Half of the Palestinian population was in poverty, rising to 68% in the Gaza Strip. Unemployment remained high at 37%. The ongoing conflict and the occupation have a strong psycho-social impact on the population. Regular access to safe water in the West Bank where nearly 40% of the communities lack water networks was a major concern, as well as the nearly 40% of the population who were food insecure.

All these factors maintained the population in a situation of high vulnerability and dependency towards external humanitarian assistance, whereas the closure policy and the construction of the barrier on Palestinian land continued. At the end of 2005 the UN had launched a USD 215 million appeal to cover anticipated humanitarian needs for 2006 which, following the serious aggravation of the humanitarian situation, had been replaced by a revised USD 384 million appeal in 2006. As in previous years, vulnerable Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Syria and, particularly, Lebanon were also affected indirectly by the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and in need of aid.

b) Related to the conflict in Lebanon

The one-month long conflict (12 July – 14 August 2006) between Israel and Hezbollah resulted in the death of over 1,100 people, injury of a further 4,055, displacement of more than 900,000 people in Lebanon, and widespread damage to homes and civilian infrastructure. The most urgent needs to be addressed were emergency health care, food and non-food items delivery, water supplies, and temporary shelter. Although the process of rebuilding is under way, it will take some time for the country to fully recover. In the meantime, remaining humanitarian needs of the affected population exist in the following sectors: clearance of unexploded munitions, shelter, water and sanitation, emergency health needs, specific food needs, and income generation activities.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

The European Commission made available in 2006 EUR 134,000,000 for humanitarian operations benefiting Palestinians in the Palestinian Territories, Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, and the victims of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Summer 2006. This substantial increase compared to the initial indicative allocation of EUR 34,000,000, partly drawn from the Commission's Emergency Aid Reserve, was due to the additional humanitarian needs which had arisen following the Hamas victory in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections in January 2006, and the resulting financial crisis of the PA as well as from the unforeseen conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah movement which heavily affected the civilian population.

The bulk of the funds, approximately EUR 81,000,000, went to operations in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in eight sectors: food; health, water and sanitation, temporary job creation, protection, shelter rehabilitation, psycho-social support and co-ordination. About one third of funds went to operations targeting beneficiaries affected by the construction of the barrier on Palestinian land.

For Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, hospitals managed by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society were provided with adequate safety standards, as well as quantity of quality water. Services to disabled persons, the elderly and children were funded, as well as protection activities. In Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, funds were earmarked for the rehabilitation of dilapidated, unsafe and unhealthy shelters.

In Lebanon, the Commission's response to the humanitarian crisis has been prompt and substantial with the adoption of two emergency decisions of EUR 10,000,000 each followed by a post-emergency/early recovery phase decision of EUR 30,000,000. Operations addressed humanitarian needs of the affected population in the following sectors: clearance of unexploded munitions, shelter, water and sanitation, emergency health needs, specific food needs, and income generation activities.

LRRD

In view of the overall political context, LRRD was still not an option for the Palestinian Territories in 2006. However, full co-ordination was ensured with more development-oriented Community instruments and funding, particularly in the food and health sectors, as well as with the Temporary International Mechanism[6], in order to avoid any duplication. Consistency and complementarity with operations in favour of Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria funded under other budget lines were also ensured.

In Lebanon, following the crisis in the summer of 2006, close coordination was established with DG RELEX and EuropeAid Co-operation Office. Moreover, DG ECHO participated to the damage and needs assessments undertaken by the other services. The DG ECHO funding that will be partly implemented in 2007 focuses on the livelihood recovery, which will help beneficiaries return as quickly as possible to "normality" and on demining. DG RELEX intends to allocate further funding to the de-mining sector from 2008, thus ensuring a continuation of the life-saving efforts made under the humanitarian aid budget.

Yemen

Humanitarian needs

Yemen is a country with a great degree of vulnerability due to the wide-spread poverty, low human development indicators, and a history of humanitarian crises –both man-made and resulting from natural disasters. In rural areas, only 32% of the population on average has access to potable water. The corollary of waterborne illnesses explains partly the strong vulnerability of children under five whose mortality rate remains relatively high. It is also reported that 46% of children are moderately or severely underweight (chronic malnutrition). Maternal deaths account for 42% of mortality among women aged 15-49.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

No funding was provided in 2006, because a funding decision was adopted at the end of December 2005 granting EUR 2,500,000 aimed to provide drinking water in rural areas or among the most vulnerable and a support to primary health care. Awareness-raising to hygiene and to sustainable management of resources accompanied these activities to perpetuate the results.

The focus in 2006 was therefore to pursue the implementing of the projects funded under the 2005 decision.

LRRD

The assistance provided is very much an LRRD intervention and linkages have been sought with the authorities as well as other donors including the EC. The self-sustainability, and the incorporation of a development dimension, is a characteristic of the interventions.

Asia

EC humanitarian assistance was provided and/or implemented in the following countries:

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Tsunami

Humanitarian needs

The tsunami left behind desolation, death and misery but the situation today is not the same in all affected areas. This is explained by the differences in the intensity of the disaster, the local authorities’ reactions, the local coping mechanisms and the degree of difficulty, or ease, of access to affected areas.

In the Indonesian province of Aceh , 170,000 people were killed by the tsunami, which had a huge impact on housing and livelihoods, displacing more than half a million people and causing economic damage estimated at USD 4.5 billion, including USD 1 billion damage to the productive sectors like agriculture and fisheries and a very significant impact on public infrastructure, like roads and bridges. At the end of 2006, the number of reconstructed houses was less than half the planned figure of 136,000. People still displaced were either living in Temporary Living Centres (TLCs), in temporary shelters or with friends and relatives. Operations went on throughout 2006 to assist food security and livelihood recovery, care and maintenance of transitional shelters like provision of water and sanitation, rehabilitation of health structures and psychosocial activities.

After Indonesia, Sri Lanka was the country hardest hit by the tsunami, which affected over two thirds of the island’s coastline. In all, 35,322 people were killed, 1 million displaced and 250,000 lost their livelihoods. The conflict-affected North and East were especially hard hit, experiencing two-thirds of the deaths and almost 60% of the displacement. Reconstruction and recovery in the conflict areas has been severely delayed by the renewed violence. Bureaucratic delays have also impeded progress throughout the country. At the end of 2006, between 100,000 and 150,000 people were still displaced and in transitional shelters or with friends and relatives. There were ongoing needs throughout the year particularly in food security, care and maintenance of transitional shelters, water and sanitation, camp management, livelihood recovery and psychosocial activities.

India is the only country which experienced the effects of both of the last two major natural disasters: the tsunami and the Pakistani earthquake. The tsunami caused widespread damage, affecting 2,260 km of coastline plus the whole of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, killing more than 16,000 people and displacing 700,000. Projects were implemented in the most affected districts. People were rapidly accommodated in the relief camps, from which, later on, they were moved to individual temporary houses provided by the government, NGOs and other civil societies. The tsunami also damaged an estimated 84,000 boats. India did not call for international assistance and the authorities responded to the emergency phase in a robust and timely manner. Therefore DG ECHO decided not to intervene in the emergency phase, but to complement the authorities’ activities in the rehabilitation phase.

Due to ongoing and unmet needs, four new projects were funded in 2006. These projects focused on improved shelter and water-sanitation facilities in temporary camps, and livelihood recovery (with a focus on low-caste, non-fishing, communities), to almost 7,000 families. 24% of the tsunami affected families still living in temporary shelters.

The Maldives consists of a series of coral atolls rising directly from the sea. In terms of global impact, it was the country hardest hit by the tsunami, with one third of the total population severely affected. The surge of water unleashed by the tsunami brought about a temporary rise in sea levels which flooded 69 out of the 200 islands completely and another 70 extensively. Only 9 islands were not flooded. A total of 12,500 people were displaced, houses and water systems destroyed or damaged, and health equipment and infrastructure damaged on many islands. Access to drinking water was a major issue, as water collection tanks were damaged and wells contaminated with salt water. Thousands of houses were affected and the fishing and agriculture sectors suffered a significant loss of livelihood equipment and tools.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

Although the tsunami occurred in the final days of December 2004, almost all the activities took place in 2005 and 2006. The bulk of operations took place in Indonesia and Sri Lanka with smaller operations in India, in the Maldives and in Thailand.

LRRD

The Tsunami Indicative Programme adopted by the European Commission in May 2005 allocated EUR 207,000,000 of the total EUR 350,000,000 to Indonesia , which is being fully implemented through the World Bank managed Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Aceh, North Sumatra and Nias. The intervention focuses on reconstruction of houses and public infrastructures like roads, bridges, airports, ports, etc., as well as schools and health centres. The funds are also dedicated to livelihood recovery programmes.

The Tsunami indicative Programme allocated EUR 95,000,000 to Sri Lanka over 2005-2006. The EC intervention focuses on restoring livelihoods and reconstruction of key economic infrastructure. EUR 39,000,000 has been allocated to rebuild a major road damaged by the tsunami from Matara to Ampara and a further EUR 30,000,000 programme will reconstruct feeder roads to this main road for communities in the Ampara district. Livelihoods and environmental support to these communities will also be provided and a further livelihoods programme will focus on 6 tsunami districts in the North and East.

Kashmir Earthquake (Pakistan/India)

Humanitarian needs

2006 began with earthquake victims still enduring the winter. Shelter, domestic items (such as blankets and clothes) and health remained the main needs. With the spring, recovery began. The Government of Pakistan (GoP) announced the introduction of the recovery phase starting in April as the emergency phase began to scale down. This included the return of most of the 160,000 formally registered internally displaced people (IDPs). Nevertheless, some camps remained for those such as the landless and widows, who were unable to settle back in their area of origin. New population displacements on a much smaller scale continued, however, due to landslides resulting from the earthquake or its aftershocks, and especially when combined with heavy monsoon rains in July. While needs such as shelter became largely recovery needs – with the GoP providing financial compensation for home reconstruction, the humanitarian focus remained on primary health care, and with increased emphasis on water and sanitation and livelihood support.

Humanitarian Objectives and Achievements

DG ECHO's response evolved according to the needs. The EUR 48,600,000 allocated in the final quarter of 2005 following the earthquake was 100% contracted. A further EUR 1,000,000 was allocated for the 2006/7 winter for air transport to ensure access to ongoing humanitarian operations in highland areas. For the winter 2005/2006, the " Race against Winter " operation was successfully completed to ensure no 'second wave' humanitarian catastrophe amongst earthquake victims in remote highland areas. The emphasis was on air transport for access, and consolidated temporary shelter, domestic items and health care.

While health assistance continued throughout the year, it evolved in nature from medical evacuation and large scale secondary care such as surgery, to maintaining a good delivery of primary health care, with the introduction of an integrated monitoring and guidance system which improved the response to disease outbreaks – during the summer in particular there was emphasis on containing outbreaks of water borne disease. This was complemented by, and was done in coordination with, the increased interventions in the water and sanitation sector. Initial recovery was assisted through early livelihood support projects, such as for seeds and tools. Assistance such as health, and water and sanitation, for IDPs continued throughout the year, with 35,000 IDPs still remaining at the end of the year.

LRRD

With the announcement by the GoP of the introduction of the recovery phase in April, DG ECHO initiated and organised a meeting of EU Member States to review the humanitarian funding response. This was followed by a meeting with other Commission services, EU Member States, United Nations, Red Cross/Crescent and International Non-Governmental Organisations to plan the linkage of the humanitarian relief assistance with the recovery phase.

Towards the end of the year, DG ECHO funded projects – for example for IDPs – put increasing emphasis on capacity building for the local authorities to facilitate their taking over of the projects in early 2007. Further, in 2006 EuropeAid Co-operation Officeallocated EUR 50,000,000 to UNICEF, UNDP and Asia Development Bank for recovery phase assistance to follow on from the humanitarian relief provided.

South Asia

Afghanistan (including Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran)

Humanitarian needs

The main groups with substantial humanitarian needs in 2006 were the over 130,000 refugees who returned from Pakistan and Iran, the returning Internally Displaced People (IDPs) within Afghanistan and the host communities receiving these returnees. The needs of the returning refugees and IDPs included transport and resettlement support, as well as shelter and water and sanitation for the most vulnerable such as female headed households. With over 4,700,000 refugees and displaced people having returned since the fall of the Taliban at the end of 2001, many of these and their host communities have required continuing support to avoid a major humanitarian crisis, particularly in the sector of water and sanitation where Afghanistan has some of the worst global indicators. A further significant area for humanitarian support was protection, especially in the South of Afghanistan. The continued vulnerability of much of the population also meant that humanitarian aid was required in response to the drought that developed in large parts of Afghanistan in 2006.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

DG ECHO’s strategy for 2006 was focused on assisting the return of refugees and IDPs and ensuring basic livelihood support for the most vulnerable and for their host communities. In parallel, DG ECHO worked with DG RELEX and UNHCR to attain durable solutions for the Afghan populations remaining in Pakistan and Iran, preparing for the time when they would cease to be considered as refugees.

The European Commission adopted a Global Plan of EUR 20,000,000 for victims of the Afghan crisis, covering the registration and transportation of refugees from Pakistan and Iran to Afghanistan, as well as continuing support for the most vulnerable of the remaining refugees. Shelters and water and sanitation were the main sectors of intervention within Afghanistan. Responses to localised disasters were made with an increasing emphasis on building up local capacity. All projects were implemented with full respect to the key issue of gender. Protection assistance was provided, notably through continued support to both UNHCR and ICRC in their respective protection mandate roles. Given the constraints of security and geography, support to security advisory services for aid agencies in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, and to a subsidised humanitarian flight service was maintained.

A separate EUR 2,500,000 decision in emergency humanitarian aid was also adopted for an estimated 2,500,000 victims affected by severe drought in Afghanistan. Significantly less snowfall in the last winter and the failure of rains in much of the country during the critical spring season caused severe drought throughout the country. Access to food and clean water supplies, as well as food security were improved for the most vulnerable populations, with a particular focus on disabled persons and female headed households.

LRRD

Close coordination is taking place on LRRD matters between DG ECHO and DG RELEX and EuropeAid Co-operation Office, with a view to ensuring the mutual compatibility of their programmes and a handover wherever possible. Increasingly, and in line with progress at the international conferences for durable solutions, DG ECHO has phased down assistance to refugees in Pakistan and Iran, while in Afghanistan assistance has remained focused on the pockets of greatest need. The Uprooted People budget line has been the main instrument for LRRD in this process.

Bangladesh

Humanitarian needs

Bangladesh, one of the poorest countries in the world, is highly vulnerable to substantial flooding between July and September each year. In 2006 monsoon floods caused embankment breaches, which in turn resulted in sudden-onset flooding of villages and farmland, leading to death and injury of people and livestock, thus affecting over 135,000 families, as their houses were partially or totally destroyed, or marooned for weeks and their crops and livestock were destroyed.

The serious humanitarian situation of the 10,000 illegal Rohingya refugees on the border with Burma continued to be of concern to DG ECHO. The EC Delegation in Dhaka is trying to find a solution with the government in order to allow humanitarian aid to be brought to these people.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

DG ECHO approved an emergency decision of EUR 4,000,000 in favour of communities in Bangladesh (EUR 1,000,000) and India (EUR 3,000,000) affected by floods. The humanitarian aid package consisted mainly of food rations and provisions for drinking water.

LRRD

As part of regular coordination with the EC Delegation and DG RELEX, options are being analysed to assist in the provision of food aid and food security to some of the most vulnerable among the chronic flood victims in Bangladesh.

India

For tsunami related operations, see point 5.1.

Humanitarian needs

Despite the continuation of an encouraging high level dialogue initiated in 2004 between India and Pakistan, violence in Jammu and Kashmir remained high, with limited media coverage of the effects of the conflict on local populations. The deep psychological effects of this violence cannot be easily mitigated and women and children are the most vulnerable.

The 2006 monsoon season caused severe flooding in several States, destroying crops, houses, livestock and social infrastructure such as water and sanitation. Over 4 million households were affected.

Humanitarian objectives and achievements

In the context of the conflict in Kashmir, EUR 2,000,000 was allocated. 4,000 people received psychosocial support and protection, despite considerable access difficulties for partners, caused mostly by bureaucratic problems. Moreover, DG ECHO approved a EUR 4,000,000 humanitarian aid package for the flood victims (of which EUR 3,000,000 for India and EUR 1,000,000 for Bangladesh), including provisions for emergency shelter, food rations, drinking water and improved storage and sanitation facilities, health, hygiene and medical support and livelihood support.

DG ECHO continued to finance projects in nutrition and the provision of water and sanitation to the Sri Lankan refugee children living in camps in Tamil Nadu.

LRRD

The only place where the linking between relief and rehabilitation is appropriate is Jammu and Kashmir, where the small DG ECHO support for non formal education is being continued by EuropeAid Co-operation Office and the EC Delegation.

Iraq

Humanitarian needs

There was a serious deterioration in the humanitarian situation in Iraq during 2006, particularly after the bombing of the Samarra shrine on 22 February, which unleashed a wave of sectarian violence, causing over