WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3406/98 by Graham WATSON Humanitarian aid for the victims of the Atiworo fireball
Date: 1998-11-09
Institutions: European Parliament, WATSON
Subjects: EU aid, Niger, Red Cross, aid to disaster victims, emergency aid, food aid, health aid, humanitarian aid, man-made disaster, non-governmental organisation

C 289/46

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.10.1999

On this basis, the Commission can only intervene in circumstances where measures adopted by Member States
are in breach of Community law. This was the case with the traffic distribution rules initially adopted by Italy
for the airport system of Milan because they did not respect the principle of non-discrimination or the
principle of proportionality. The decision adopted by the Commission on 16 September 1998 reached that
conclusion because the level of traffic to be handled by Malpensa aiport would have been incompatible with
existing access infrastructures and because all carriers were not treated in the same way.

However, the Commission does not have the legal right to assume responsibility for the quality of airport
management in the Member States, nor can it impose the operation of specific air routes to certain regions.

(1999/C 289/060)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3406/98

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(9 November 1998)

Subject: Humanitarian aid for the victims of the Atiworo fireball

On 17 October 1998, the Atiworo fireball disaster took the lives of over seven hundred Nigerians.

It is estimated that some 1000 more are suffering in hospitals woefully unequipped to deal with their injuries.
Many of those critically ill who were taken to hospital have since been spirited away by friends and relatives for
fear that the victims may be arrested.

Has the Commission offered to provide medical aid and assistance so that the authorities in Nigeria may help
the Atiworo victims?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(7 December 1998)

From the moment the explosion occurred, the Commission’s Delegation followed very closely the develop-
ment of the situation and kept the Commission duly informed.

Necessities were covered through bilateral donations in the sectors of emergency medical assistance, food and
domestic items. The Commission has not received any formal request for funding either from any agency, non-
governmental organisation (NGO) or from the Nigerian authorities. Furthermore, according to the Regional
Delegate of the International Federation of the Red Cross, the Nigerian Red Cross machinery at the scene of the
disaster is adequate.

(1999/C 289/061)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3418/98

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(24 November 1998)

Subject: Ambient air

With reference to the proposal for a Council Directive relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, oxides of
nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air (COM(97) 0500 final 8 97/0266 SYN) (1), would the
Commission ascertain whether the limit values for sulphur dioxide (SO2) will be sufficiently rigorous, both
with regard to public health and for the prevention of material damage? The possibility of setting a limit value
to prevent material damage might also be considered in this connection.

(1) OJ C 9, 14.1.1998, p. 6.