Report from the Commission (Humanitarian Aid Office - ECHO) - Annual Report 2001
Date: 2002-07-03
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: ECHO, EU action, aid evaluation, aid programme, cooperation policy, humanitarian aid, man-made disaster, natural disaster, statistics

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 03.07.2002
COM(2002) 322 final

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION

(Humanitarian Aid Office – ECHO)

Annual Report 2001

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION

(Humanitarian Aid Office – ECHO)1

Annual Report 2001

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The global disaster situation continues to challenge the humanitarian community. With
respect to natural disasters, the global trend towards more frequent and more damaging
disasters continues, aggravating demographic changes, environmental degradation, changes of
land-use and other factors, particularly in the least developed and conflict-ridden states. The
most important events in 2001 with humanitarian implications were the earthquake in El
Salvador and India, the floods in India, and the droughts affecting Central Asia.

The global situation concerning man-made disasters remains challenging. The number of
wars and violent crises has increased to 38 at the end of 2001. The circumstances are
exacerbated in some regions by the effects of natural disasters and adverse climatic
phenomena. While the overall stabilisation in the Balkans allowed ECHO to phase-down, in
spite of the flaring up of tensions in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, areas of
main concern include the Northern Caucasus and Afghanistan. Africa continues to suffer from
major and protracted humanitarian disasters with a large crisis belt spanning across the
continent from Sudan in the north-east, the DR of Congo and the Great Lakes in the centre to
Angola in the south-west.

€

ECHO’s response to humanitarian crises in 2001 was to allocate a total of
543.7 million to
fund humanitarian projects in more than 60 countries. As regards the regional distribution of
funds, the ACP countries were the biggest recipient of humanitarian aid allocated by the
€
173.320 million (33%). Within Africa, the
European Communities with a total amount of
€
biggest crisis remained in the Great Lakes with
32 million
35 million allocated for DRC,
for Burundian refugees in Tanzania and
20 million for Burundi itself. Assistance to the
Western Balkans decreased compared to last year (16% decrease) due to the stabilisation of
the region. However, mainly due to the large caseload of refugees and IDPs, Serbia remained
ECHO’s largest operation. Aid for Asia increased slightly and reached 20% (2000:16%).
54.7 million of humanitarian assistance
Since the start of 2001, ECHO has provided almost
23.4 million were allocated prior
to Afghanistan and neighbouring countries. Of these funds,
to September 11.

€

€

€

€

With respect to the type of partners, the three main partner groups were EC-NGOs (62.5 %
of ECHO’s funding was implemented through them), the United Nations (26.5%) and other
International Organisations (7.9%). With UNHCR (8.6%) and WFP (7.25%) as ECHO’s main
partners, funding percentage for the UN increased considerably from 19% to 26.5% in 2001.

In 2001, ECHO continued to implement the recommendations of the so called “Article 20
evaluation” as part of the overall reform effort. Important achievements have been made in
several areas, namely clarifying ECHO’s mandate mainly with respect to its role in the

1

In accordance with Article 19 of Council Regulation (EC) N° 1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning
humanitarian aid

2

linking of relief, rehabilitation and development (LRRD), improving ECHO’s relations with
the United Nations and implementing its administrative reform. The new primary
emergency procedure came into operation in June 2001 and allows ECHO to arrange the
immediate despatch of the assistance with its partners within hours of the sudden onset of a
crisis.

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1.

GENERAL POLICY FRAMEWORK

In 2001, ECHO continued to implement the recommendations of the so called “Article 20
evaluation” 2 as part of the overall reform effort. Important achievements have been made in
several areas, namely clarifying ECHO’s mandate mainly with respect to its role in the
linking of relief, rehabilitation and development (LRRD), improving ECHO’s relations
with the United Nations and implementing its administrative reform.

ECHO’s mandate and role vis-à-vis the other Community instruments in the field of
external relations had been further clarified with respect to its role in the so-called “transition
gap” between relief, rehabilitation and development (LRRD). As outlined in the Commission
Communication on LRRD published in April 20013, ECHO will focus more clearly on its
core mandate, i.e. providing immediate life saving relief in emergencies, while development
cooperation will have to strengthen efforts to bridge the gap from the other side. In order to
further enhance its transparency and predictability, ECHO prepared a working paper in
December 2001 to clarify its general criteria for phase-outs and hand-overs. The working
paper established these criteria in two steps: (1) by defining the point that should trigger the
transition from humanitarian assistance to rehabilitation and development and (2) by looking
at the main contextual factors that will have an impact on the modus operandi for phase-outs.

Also in 2001, ECHO developed a methodology to better define forgotten crises
complementing the qualitative assessment by desks to identify such crises. This also includes
unstable post-crisis situations where other donors may be reluctant to get involved in short-
term rehabilitation measures because of the high risks involved or the destabilising effects,
which a perceived lack impartiality on the part of those donors might entail. The identification
of "forgotten crises" is based mainly on an analysis of media reporting and coverage of needs
through other donors. The crises thus identified in 2001 were Angola, Western Sahara and the
Northern Caucasus (Chechnya).
In line with its strategic approach, ECHO provided
considerable funding for the people affected by those “forgotten crises”.

In view of improving capacity to prioritise its activities towards the areas of greatest
humanitarian needs,
in 2001 ECHO refined its methodology to assess needs. As a
complementary instrument this analysis is based on aggregate data on relevant indicators
(vulnerability, refugees, IDPs, mortality rates etc.). This planning tool offers cross-country
comparisons to complement in-depth analyses of ECHO country desks and experts, partners
on the ground and other donors (e.g. UN CAPs). It contains a collection of primary statistical
data on the critical indicators of humanitarian needs for some 130 countries, aggregated into
groups with high, medium and low needs. With this methodology, ECHO has been able to
demonstrate that the large majority of its operations indeed focus on the areas of great needs.

As part of the overall reform effort, ECHO continued to implement the recommendations of
the so-called "Article 20 evaluation". These focused mainly on restructuring ECHO’s
internal organisation and working methods, improving the performance of ECHO’s
operations and developing instruments to measure output and results. ECHO has also
initiated a review of its internal procedures with a view to facilitating and accelerating the
decision-making process, while maintaining an adequate level of control.

2

3

Communication COM (1999)468 final of 26.10.1999 on "Assessment and future of Community
humanitarian activities" (article 20 of Regulation (EC) 1257/96).
Commission Communication on Linking Relief, Rehabilitation and Development - An Assessment
(COM 2001 (153) final of 23.04.2001)

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The package of measures adopted by the Commission in November 2000 on the
simplification of procedures opened the possibility for ECHO to introduce a fast-track
decision-making procedure ("primary emergency decision"). This has enabled ECHO to
fund projects within 24-72 hours after a sudden-onset disaster. The new procedure was
formally adopted in June 2001 and has been successfully tested following the earthquake in
Peru, the flooding in Algeria, the cyclone Iris in Belize and the recent Afghan crisis.

In this context, appropriate information is essential for early warning and rapid response.
ECHO thus developed a web-based crisis information system, which provides it with daily
disaster updates of both natural disasters and man-made disasters. Together with the
Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), ECHO has also launched the Digital Map
Archive (DMA) project providing ECHO with cartographic material and GIS-based decision
support tools. Both instruments were designed to facilitate its day-to-day activities as well as
its planning process.

Additionally, ECHO began to develop a new local information system, the so-called HOLIS
project ("Humanitarian Office Local Information System"). This system will
integrate
existing information systems such as ECHO’s contract database HOPE with sophisticated
management systems that are currently being developed.

2.

OVERVIEW OF OPERATIONS

ECHO’s response to humanitarian crises closely followed the global humanitarian situation in
2001. With respect to natural disasters, the global trend towards more frequent and more
damaging disasters continues. Demographic changes, environmental degradation, changes of
land-use and other factors aggravate the adverse effects of these natural events across the
globe, particularly in the least developed and conflict-ridden states. The most important
events with humanitarian implications were the earthquake in El Salvador and India, the
floods in India and the droughts affecting Central Asia.

situation concerning man-made disasters

remains challenging. Research
The global
institutions estimate that 2.2 million people were killed in conflicts since 1991. The number of
wars and violent crises has increased from 27 in 1997 to 31 in 1998 and to 38 at the end of
20014. In 2001, the total number of refugees remained at some 11.7 million. The Global IDP
project estimates the number of IDPs at 25 million by the end of 2001.5 The circumstances are
exacerbated in some regions by the effects of natural disasters and adverse climatic
phenomena. While the overall stabilisation in the Balkans allowed ECHO to phase-down,
areas of main concern include the Northern Caucasus and Afghanistan. Africa continues to
suffer from major and protracted humanitarian disasters with a large crisis belt spanning
across the continent from Sudan in the north-east, the DR Congo and the Great Lakes in the
centre to Angola in the south-west.

4

5

Heidelberg Institute for
International Conflict Research (HIIK), Annual Conflict Barometer:
http://www.conflicts.com/hiik/frame_en.html. For more information see CRED http://www.cred.be and
SIPRI http://www.sipri.se/.
Sources: UNHCR Basic Facts, http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home?page=basics. UNHCR:
Global Refugee Trends January - June 2001 (14 September 2001). IFRC World Disasters Report 2001.
U.S.
2001:
http://www.refugees.org/world/statistics/wrs01_table5.htm. Global Overview of the Global IDP project:
http://www.idpproject.org/global_overview.htm.

Committee.

Refugees:

Refugee

Survey

World

for

5

ECHO’s response to humanitarian crises in 2001 rose to a total of
543.7 million. To fund
humanitarian projects in more than 60 countries, 1031 contracts were signed (including
contracts implementing decision made in 2000²). Regarding the regional distribution of funds,
the ACP countries were the biggest recipient of humanitarian aid from the European
Community with a total amount of
173.320 million (33%). Assistance to the Western
Balkans decreased compared to 2000, due to the stabilisation of the region, whereas aid for
Asia increased slightly increase.

€

€

ECHO’s main partner group remains EC-NGOs (62.5 % of ECHO’s funding was
implemented through them). With UNHCR (8.6%) and WFP (7.25%) as ECHO’s main
partners, funding for the UN increased in 2001 and reached 26.5% (2000:19.2%). Other
international organisations, including ICRC and IFRC, received 7.9%.

2.1.

AFRICA, THE CARIBBEAN, AND THE PACIFIC

€

€

In the year 2001, the ACP region was the biggest recipient of humanitarian aid from ECHO
with a total amount of
173.320 million. Within Africa, the biggest crisis remained in the
Great Lakes with
32 million for Burundian refugees in
Tanzania and
20 million for Burundi itself. In addition, hundreds of thousands of refugees,
IDPs and local vulnerable populations all over the continent benefited from life-saving
emergency aid delivered by ECHO’s partners under very difficult circumstances.

35 million allocated for DRC,

€

€

Although the political developments in many of the beneficiary countries leave some serious
doubts as to whether a long-term improvement of the humanitarian situation will happen
soon, there are nevertheless some positive signs (e.g. a stabilisation in West Africa).

ECHO managed to improve the delivery of its aid to ACP beneficiaries by making the bulk of
funding available at the very beginning of the 2001, allowing for quick responses and fine-
tuning of the strategy in the course of the year.

2.1.1. Horn of Africa and Eastern Africa

Since 1983, Sudan has been experiencing a long-term civil war between the Government of
Sudan and opposing armed factions that control many areas in the South. The main
consequences of the protracted conflict are death, displacement and vulnerability of the
population, and continuous disruption or absence of basic services such as health, education
and infrastructure. On top of this, recurring droughts and floods that impair food security,
together with the continued presence of a number of diseases, exacerbate complement the
dramatic situation. Unfortunately, peace talks have yet to achieve tangible results. ECHO
15 million for funding of
contributed in 2001 with a Global Plan for Sudan that released
projects in a wide range of areas, such as health, nutrition, food security, water and sanitation,
emergency relief and preparedness, as well as supporting transport and the coordination and
2 million was released in the course of 2001 to
security of humanitarian staff. Additionally,
fight serious drought that hit large areas of the North and pockets in the South. The main
constraints for implementing projects in Sudan last year were high insecurity and access
restrictions due to military activities, as well as seasonal climatic influences and poor
infrastructure.

€

€

Following the devastating drought which affected large parts of South East Ethiopia, ECHO
kept his presence in the country. The 2001 Global Plan with a financial volume of
6.7
million focussed on three humanitarian theatres, of which support to drought recovery in the
important component. Through combined livestock
pastoralist

regions was the most

€

6

programmes and rehabilitation of water points, ECHO facilitated pastoralists in re-building
their livelihoods after years of drought and improve their preparedness to future shocks. The
activities promoted through some of these programmes have been selected for further funding
by other Commission instruments. Furthermore, under its Global Plan, ECHO supported
UNHCR in the return of refugees from Ethiopia to Somalia and funded basic rehabilitation in
favour of war displaced in Tigray. In addition to the activities funded under the Global Plan,
ECHO responded to an emergency caused by a large-scale outbreak of meningitis by
allocating

2.5 million.

€

In Eritrea, ECHO continued its humanitarian support to operations in favour of vulnerable
populations affected by the recent border war. As long as large numbers of war displaced
were dwelling in camps, ECHO funding was provided to sustain them with clean water,
the Temporary Security Zone was
shelter, health support and non-food items. After
established along the border to Ethiopia, in May 2001, the majority of the approx. 300,000
internally displaced returned to their villages. ECHO provided funding to facilitate the return
of IDPs through the rehabilitation of water installations, health posts and the provision of non-
food items. To help the returning populations in coping with the risks of mine contamination
in their areas of return, ECHO funded mine demarcation and mine awareness programmes.
Furthermore, ECHO initiated a nutritional surveillance system in large parts of the country
including in part the drought affected areas. ECHO assistance was also extended to UNHCR
in support of their repatriation of Eritrean refugees from Sudan starting in May 2001. A total
of

7 million was made available in 2001.

€

Somalia, in particular its central and southern regions, remains ridden by civil strife and
extreme insecurity which has made it very difficult for
international aid agencies to
implement humanitarian aid projects

ECHO continued to support projects in the area of health and nutrition as well as
1.7 million. In addition, the Commission
rehabilitation of water points with a total of
decided to continue the ECHO Flight service in the Horn of Africa, which serves a large
number of humanitarian and development projects in Somalia. The cost for this service to
Somalia was

8.4 million this year.

€

€

ECHO continued its activities directed at mitigating the effects of the drought in Kenya,
which struck the northern part of the country. Through the support of livestock programmes
and the rehabilitation of water sources ECHO assisted the pastoralist population in their
€
4.6 million was made available in favour of
recovery from the drought. In 2001 a total of
Kenya.

2.1.2.

Southern Africa

Although there were general expectations that in Angola social indicators in 2001 would
improve, following some initial positive results in 2000, and that many dependent populations
would be able to achieve food security, overall humanitarian conditions deteriorated and the
civil war continued. 60% of areas hosting IDPs are still without any humanitarian presence
and UN estimates show at least 500.000 Angolans in desperate need of food. Dangerous
conditions continued to make it difficult for humanitarian organisations to operate, the
greatest constraint being the lack of access to populations at risks, needing assistance.

In 2001, ECHO continued its emergency focused program, concentrating on short-term
emergency response interventions in favour of the most vulnerable populations. Operations

7

€

9 million to support emergency projects covering health, nutrition, emergency relief,

worth
protection and air transport to ensure the supply of goods to humanitarian operations.

ECHO had intended to phase out its operations in Mozambique at the beginning of 2001, and
the handover process to other Commission instruments for longer term rehabilitation projects
was underway by the end of 2000. However, in February 2001 there was extensive flooding
in the central region of Mozambique, affecting the provinces of Zambezia, Sofala, Tete and
Manica. It is estimated that over 320,000 people were affected, many of them evacuated to
temporary camps. These floods covered a larger area than in 2000, affected the poorest part of
Mozambique and came at a time when Mozambique had not yet recovered from the previous
year's devastation.

Two Commission Decisions were taken between April and July 2001, providing
2.84 million
for humanitarian assistance to flood victims. The interventions covered food distribution, the
supply of medicines and non-food items (such as temporary shelters and blankets), water and
sanitation projects and the distribution of seeds and tools.

€

2.1.3. Central Africa

Although there was some political progress following the assassination of Laurent-Désiré
Kabila in January, the territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remained
divided among groups backed by neighbouring countries pursuing rival strategic and
economic agendas. In addition, the eastern part of the country continued to be violently
destabilised by a plethora of armed militias. A series of surveys confirmed catastrophic
mortality rates, mostly caused by the breakdown of food production and lack of access to
basic healthcare. After decades of mismanagement under
the previous regime, now
exacerbated by two successive civil wars, the general population is scarcely in better shape
35 million global plan consequently focused
than DRC’s estimated 3 million IDPs. ECHO’s
on providing primary healthcare in one third of the country and an integrated nutrition and
food security programme targeting the most needy. An independent evaluation in September
concluded that these objectives were by and large being met, but that insecurity and access in
general remained major problems for the humanitarian community.

€

Since 1993, Burundi has been gripped by a civil war, which has left the population extremely
vulnerable. The conflict, mainly political in nature with a strong ethnic component, opposes
the Tutsi and the Hutu, some of which have formed armed groups. In August 2000, a peace
agreement was signed by the main political forces in Burundi with the exception of the two
armed rebel groups. A transition government was set up on 1 November 2001. However, the
war rages on as no cease-fire has yet been implemented, and the current outlook for
negotiations is bleak. Burundi
is also directly affected by the crisis in neighbouring
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The crisis has provoked large internal displacements of population and half a million
Burundian have fled to Tanzania. In Burundi, one million people are still considered very
vulnerable and are dependent on humanitarian aid. An unprecedented malaria epidemic
wrought havoc in the country at the end of 2000 and beginning of 2001 and was followed by a
major malnutrition crisis. ECHO and its partners have addressed pressing humanitarian needs
20
in 2001 in the sectors of health, nutrition and food security with an overall amount of
million but large needs subsist as the security situation has not improved.

€

Tanzania is still hosting one of the largest refugee populations on the continent, with
approximately 350,000 Burundian, 120,000 Congolese and 25,000 Rwandan refugees living

8

in camps in the Western provinces. ECHO contributed over
32 million to the Tanzania
refugee programme in 2001 through the UN and the Red Cross, thus funding one third of the
total humanitarian aid provided to refugees in this country.

€

2.1.4. West Africa

The situation in Sierra Leone has been improving throughout 2001 with the peace process
gaining momentum. By the end of the disarmament and demobilisation exercise, an estimated
45,000 ex-combatants were registered. UNAMSIL peace-keeping troops have been gradually
deploying in RUF-controlled areas, which had not been accessible for almost a decade.
ECHO has been supporting emergency interventions in these newly accessible areas,
benefiting at the same time internally displaced, returnees or resident population. Priority
sectors remained health, water and sanitation, distribution of emergency non-food items and
psychosocial assistance to children affected by fighting forces (child protection). Total ECHO
contribution for Sierra Leone in 2001 amounted to
12.2 million. The result of the upcoming
presidential elections scheduled for May 2002 will prove crucial for the peaceful future of the
country.

€

Up until March 2001 the refugee-affected areas of south-western Guinea were experiencing
heavy fighting between Guinean military and various armed factions based in Sierra Leone
and Liberia. This led to the displacement and eventually relocation of up to 70.000 refugees to
new camps further inland whilst 75,000 refugees returned to Sierra Leone, some crossing
through dangerous RUF territory. ECHO provided
7.9 million for refugees, IDPs and local
vulnerable populations in Guinea, focussing on health, water/sanitation, shelter and food
security. Another main area of activity was special support to children affected by war.

€

2.2.

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, NIS COUNTRIES

2.2.1. Western Balkans

The recovery of the Western Balkans from the 1999 Kosovo crisis continued in 2001 although
the conflict in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) overshadowed the
improvement in the overall humanitarian situation. In 2001, ECHO continued to be present in
five countries and entities in the region (Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, FYROM and Albania)
83.05 million. The decrease from the two previous years reflects the
with a budget of
improvement
in the humanitarian situation and the increasing involvement of other
Commission instruments.

€

ECHO’s efforts in the Western Balkans pursued three objectives: to respond to the new
humanitarian needs resulting from the FYROM crisis;
to continue addressing basic
humanitarian needs of refugees, IDPs and vulnerable social cases; and, to promote the LRRD
process by supporting the transition to reconstruction and longer term development and by
promoting self-reliance among the beneficiaries of aid.

In Kosovo, ECHO concluded the bulk of one of its largest humanitarian operations, moving
from a pure emergency intervention to rehabilitation and finally resulting in a successful
transition towards a more structural development process. In June 1999, when the Kosovo
refugees started returning, ECHO responded to the pressing humanitarian needs, providing
food, medical assistance, as well as emergency shelter to more than 22,000 returnee families.
In 2000, ECHO continued to respond to basic needs of the most vulnerable whilst supporting

9

the initial steps of the recovery process (in the education and health sector, through the
rehabilitation of water supplies and by supporting self-reliance projects). In 2001, ECHO
succeeded in finalising its prior intervention and continued to support UNHCR’s protection
and assistance efforts in favour of minorities. In addition, ECHO provided basic assistance to
the refugees from fYROM (72,000 at the peak of the crisis) and to their host families.

Serbia remained ECHO’s largest operation. The political changes in Serbia and the reform-
minded government have attracted long-term structural assistance from donors, including the
Commission, as demonstrated by the success of the donor conference on FRY, held in
Brussels in June 2001. However, humanitarian needs are still considerable in Serbia, mainly
due to the large caseload of refugees and IDPs (almost 600,000). Whilst prospects for the
return of IDPs are, at the moment, still bleak, durable solutions for refugees –mainly
integration but also repatriation- are at sight. ECHO’s programme in 2001 continued to
address basic needs whilst pursuing more durable solutions, such as facilitating the
repatriation (legal information, go and see visits) and supporting the private accommodation
of refugees, as a more dignified alternative to life in collective centres.

In Montenegro and in Albania, the humanitarian needs resulting from the Kosovo crisis have
virtually been fully covered. In Montenegro, ECHO focused on covering the winter needs and
reducing the dependency of beneficiary groups on humanitarian assistance by funding self-
reliance activities. In Albania, one of the poorest countries in Europe, the focus was on
consolidating the previous health and water and sanitation interventions with a view to
facilitating the transition to a development process.

In FYROM, 2001 witnessed an open conflict between the Ethnic Albanian Armed Groups
(EAAG) and the Macedonian armed forces. The conflict escalated in various stages in the first
half of the year resulting in various waves of population displacements within the country and
outside its borders, especially into Kosovo. The international community, mainly the
European Union, adopted a pro-active stance in terms of political mediation, of reconstruction
assistance (through the Rapid Reaction Mechanism and the CARDS 2001 programme) as well
as humanitarian assistance. In strict accordance with its mandate, ECHO has provided food
assistance to all the IDPs and to vulnerable returnees, non-food assistance to the host families
and IDPs, and has funded the emergency rehabilitation of schools and health centres damaged
during the conflict, in order to facilitate the return of IDPs. Since the start of the conflict,
close co-ordination among Commission services allowed to establish a task division between
the various Commission instruments, thus avoiding both overlaps and gaps. ECHO focused
on the immediate humanitarian needs whilst the RRM addressed medium term needs such as
in spite of some positive developments
housing reconstruction. On the political front,
following the conclusion of a Framework Agreement between political leaders from both
ethnic groups and the approval, in November, of constitutional changes, the political process
was, at the end of 2001, still fragile.

2.2.2. Newly Independent States (NIS)

In 2001, the overall humanitarian situation in the NIS has not improved significantly. Though
in many NIS countries efforts have been made to launch economic reforms, which led to a
certain improvement in their overall economic standing (notably in the Russian Federation),
no tangible results have yet been achieved as far as the living conditions of the general
population are concerned. On the contrary, public spending on the health and social sectors
tended to decrease, with hospital equipment becoming obsolete and the population finding it
increasingly difficult to have access to appropriate health care. The strata of society most
affected are large families, elderly and disabled people, who seriously suffer from the

10

the continuously deteriorating general economic situation (i.e.

consequences of
from
continued inflation, a significant reduction in real purchasing power and month-long delays in
the payment of salaries, pensions and state allowances). Their coping mechanisms have
practically been exhausted.

It is evident that the problems which have led to the must vulnerables' difficult humanitarian
situation are clearly of a structural nature, which renders a justification of ECHO's
intervention difficult, especially in the light of ECHO's refocusing on its core mandate of
emergency relief. However, given the circumstances mentioned above and the insufficient
deployment of another Commission instrument more suitable to intervene in this respect,
ECHO continued to allocate - albeit limited - funding in 2001. The express aim has been to
alleviate the precarious situation of the most vulnerable groups. Accordingly, the funded
operations had clearly defined objectives so as to target well identified groups at special risk
(e.g. children in institutions, isolated elderly, large families at risk).

In line with ECHO's refocussing on its core mandate, gradual phasing out neared completion
in Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine as well as in the Southern Caucasus (Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Armenia), with, however, a limited specific drought response provided to vulnerable
groups in both Georgia and Armenia. No intervention was required in the Central Asian
countries of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, in the absence of a
spill-over of the Afghan crisis.

€

€

ECHO's gradual phasing out continued in Tajikistan with a further reduction (to
10 million)
in Global Plan funding for food, health and water programs throughout the country. An
2 million emergency allocation for small-scale food security programs aimed to
additional
mitigate the immediate negative effects of a second consecutive year of severe drought.
ECHO involvement - albeit on a reduced scale - is likely to have to continue in the short term,
until
the drought has no more large-scale
humanitarian impact and European Commission and Member States longer-term development
instruments have resumed or stepped up their activities. The increased international attention
given to Central Asia in connection with the Afghan crisis appears to be acting as a catalyst in
this regard, at least to a certain extent.

the post-conflict situation has stabilised,

In the Russian Federation, the latest armed conflict in Chechnya, which erupted in late 1999,
still remains unsolved. It has led to large displacements of people in the Northern Caucasus
region and created significant humanitarian needs. However, efforts by the international aid
community to help cover those needs have often been thwarted by extremely difficult
working conditions, notably in Chechnya itself. The international aid community would have
expected a more cooperative attitude on the part of the Russian authorities, i.e. facilitating
rather than obstructing aid distribution to the Chechen population. International humanitarian
organisations intending to work in Chechnya have had to face rather long-winded and erratic
"access and work permit system" as well as the absence of sufficient security guarantees,
despite Russian promises of cooperating with EC-funded aid operations. ECHO funding
helped inter alia to provide food aid to 230,000 IDPs and vulnerable people in Chechnya
(including 30,000 school children), to enhance the water and sanitation conditions for some
100,000 IDPs and residents in Chechnya as well as for 10,000 IDPs living in tents and
spontaneous settlements in Ingushetia. 40,000 IDPs living in camps both in Ingushetia and
Chechnya benefited from primary health care services provided by ECHO partners.
Furthermore, IDPs, returnees and residents throughout the Northern Caucasus were covered
through ECHO-funded protection activities, notably legal counselling.

11

In the light of the progressing rapprochement of Eastern European countries towards the EU
and their improving national economy as well as the deployment of other, more appropriate
Commission instruments, no ECHO funding was allocated to operations there in 2001.

In 2001, ECHO made a limited allocation to respond to the disastrous winter, which affected
a large part of the rural population in Mongolia. In this vein, operations were financed to help
40,000 of the most vulnerable people with basic food items and agricultural inputs.

12

2.3.

ASIA, THE MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA AND LATIN AMERICA

2.3.1. Asia

54.7 million of humanitarian assistance
Since the start of 2001, ECHO has provided almost
to Afghanistan and neighbouring countries. Of these funds,
23.4 million were allocated
prior to September 11 to provide assistance to displaced people (medico-nutritional projects,
shelter construction, and water and sanitation in the camps) and food-related assistance to
resident populations in rural areas in response to the ongoing drought.

€

€

€

(NGOs)

Since 11 September, using a progressive strategy, a further
31.3 million has been channelled
through a variety of Non-Governmental Organisations
international
and
organisations to continue delivering food for the drought affected populations and to pursue
primary assistance to the IDP populations. These funds have also been used to: respond to war
casualties and mine injuries resulting from increased population movements; to provide
assistance for people returning to their home areas (farming tools, seeds and shelter
materials); to carry out humanitarian mine clearance operations and mine training for new
ammunition laid by the coalition; to fund logistics such as World Food Programme (WFP)
lorries and telecommunications, air transport for NGO staff and humanitarian cargo; to
contribute to the re-opening of an ECHO office in Kabul; to enhance better co-ordination
between humanitarian actors and improve the humanitarian information management system.

Prior to the retreat of the Taliban at
the dedication and
competence of local staff have enabled the projects to continue, despite the absence of
expatriates, who were limited to organising the redeployment of their bases around
Afghanistan to ensure the continuity of a humanitarian aid pipeline.

the end of November 2001,

In India, ECHO responded to two major natural disasters in 2001. Assistance was provided
for the victims of the Gujarat earthquake in January, most of it geared towards the provision
of temporary shelters such as tents, with a mobile field hospital also being provided. In July,
ECHO provided emergency food and non-food aid for those affected by the floods in Orissa.
ECHO funds for India totalled

14.602 million.

€

One project of the International Committee of the Red Cross was supported in Sri Lanka, to
provide transport to 900,000 people in Jaffna cut off by the ongoing civil war. Next year, it is
hoped to do more in this conflict, which certainly merits the label ‘forgotten crisis’.
€

2 million was allocated to the World Food Programme to feed 150,000 Bhutanese refugees
who were expelled to Nepal 10 years ago and since then have found no welcome in either
country. Without this help they would have suffered from serious food shortages.

ECHO has continued to be heavily involved in East Timor (
11.274 million), mainly in
projects to improve water and sanitation and healthcare services. Now that a measure of
stability has come to the country and the focus is shifting away from relief operations towards
rehabilitation and development, ECHO will begin to phase out its operations there in 2002.

€

In 2001, ECHO increased its assistance to Myanmar/Burma (
2.0 millions) by sanitation
and health programmes addressing the IDP population as well as by a protection programme
for displaced prisoners.

€

13

ECHO financed activities in Thailand (
4.5 millions) were focused to the improvement of
living conditions in the Burmese refugee camps, also taking into account the newly arriving
refugees and the secret refugees around the camp.

€

In Indonesia, ECHO’s activities in 2001 (
2.2 millions) have been marked by the assistance
to the population affected by the local ethnic and religious conflicts like in the Moluccas,
West Timor.

€

In the Philippines, ECHO has responded to the ongoing internal conflict in Mindanao, with
projects guaranteeing minimal
living conditions of the displaced and returnees persons
victims of the violence. At the end of the year emergency relief was provided for victims of
the Tropical Storm “Lingling” on Negros Island (total aid

1.46 million).

€

Although Cambodia remains one of the poorest countries in South-East Asia, in a number of
provinces progress in areas such as health care, water and sanitation has been sufficient to
allow a shift from emergency aid to a longer term development approach. ECHO therefore
concentrated its efforts (
4.052 million) in assisting operations in the most remote areas, often
newly opened to relief workers. The focus of the help was on water and sanitation
improvements, on basic health care, including small-scale emergency rehabilitation of health
posts medical structures and on assistance in the processes of reintegrating refugees in
Cambodian society.

€

Small-scale humanitarian mine clearance actions were integrated into these operations to
ensure security for relief-workers and local populations in the former conflict zones. No
emergency aid was deemed necessary for the September floods. Nevertheless, at the same
time of the floods, Cambodia has been struck by droughts, requiring emergency interventions
to ensure food security, for which ECHO provided assistance of
€

0.848 million.

In Vietnam, emergency aid of
0.53 million was granted in response to the flooding which
affected the country in the autumn. ECHO’s contribution focused on operations directed
thus lessening the reliance on the usual mass
towards food security improvements,
distribution of food and relief items.

€

€

2.15 million) in response to two natural
Two decisions were made in China in 2001 (
disasters. First there were the July typhoons and floods in Guangxi, southern China, where
ECHO targeted its help to particularly vulnerable groups, such as those suffering from leprosy
and isolated village communities. Then later on in the year blizzards in Inner Mongolia came
hard on the heels of a prolonged period of drought, causing considerable difficulties for
nomadic herdsmen – here ECHO’s help aimed to cover basic nutritional needs.

The structural humanitarian crisis in North Korea was exacerbated by floods in October.
ECHO continued to provide humanitarian assistance through the European NGOs present in
3.365 million). Projects concentrated on the health
the country and the Red Cross family (
sector and on provision of winter clothes for children. Particular attention was also given to
obtaining improvements in the respect of humanitarian principles in North Korea (direct
access to beneficiaries, free monitoring, focus on the most vulnerable groups) and to detailed
feasibility studies for projects in the water and sanitation sectors.

€

Humanitarian conditions in Iraq continued to deteriorate in 2001, after 10 years of isolation
from the international community. ECHO’s support, through a Global Plan adopted in April
2001 (
13 million) sought to complement the “Oil for Food” UN Resolution 986, and to
alleviate the suffering of the Iraqi people.

€

14

The Global Plan, channelled through the European NGOs working in Iraq and the UN
agencies, focused on the rehabilitation of hospitals, primary health care centres and water
treatment plants.

2.3.2. Middle East and North Africa

€

ECHO funds for the Middle East totalled
29.96 million, with the Palestinian territories
€
remaining one of the major spheres of ECHO’s intervention (total
26 million). In the first
half of 2001, ECHO grants were given to emergency relief and humanitarian aid projects
which aimed to promote the regaining of adequate access to water in areas particularly
affected by the clashes and to ensure the functioning of primary health care centres.
Distribution of food and essential non-food items to the most vulnerable Palestinian families
was carried out as well. In 2001, ECHO channelled its aid mainly though the United Nations
Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in Near East (UNRWA) which as a major
partner received 4.84% of ECHO’s total budget.

In addition, ECHO supported three projects to reconstruct and rehabilitate shelters in the
refugee camps in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.

In response to the worsened situation after 11 September, ECHO financed projects for
emergency food aid, for the improvement of mother and child healthcare and for psycho-
social services for young people traumatised by the violence and emergency medical teams
suffering from stress-related symptoms. Furthermore, ECHO supported projects for the
rehabilitation and reconstruction of the shelters of vulnerable refugee families as well as a
project for the protection of civilians and the monitoring of compliance with the Geneva
Convention IV.

€

ECHO continued funding assistance to Yemen (
1.885 million), where one in four people
live below the poverty line and where many die from disease every day. One important focus
for ECHO has been on rehabilitating tracks and on providing people with drinkable water,
notably on the island of Soqotra, which was flooded. Some of the most vulnerable people
have also been re-housed. Access to water, sanitation and primary health care have been
ECHO’s other main objectives.

Serious food shortages developed in the camps in Algeria occupied by refugees from the
Western Sahara. Average consumption among the 160,000 people involved again dropped
dangerously below the 2,100 calories recommended as the minimum daily intake by the
World Health Organisation. ECHO responded with an emergency decision to cover the
provision of essential food supplies and to create a buffer stock corresponding to 3 months of
basic food products. This buffer stock seems to have been very useful and has been used 7
times in 2001, thus helping the refugees to avoid more serious food shortages. The emergency
decision was followed up by a global plan that, while focusing on complementary food items,
also included significant funding for non-food items (mainly tents and health care operations)
– total funding

15.57 million.

€

€

ECHO is currently phasing out its operations in Algeria but took a primary emergency
decision (
758,800) in November to help the victims of the floods and to express the
solidarity of the EU with the Algerian people.

15

2.3.3. Latin America

10 million). The
Colombia is ECHO’s largest sphere of operations in Latin America (
internal armed conflict continued to worsen, despite the efforts of the Colombian government
to establish peace talks with the main guerrilla groups. The number of new internally
displaced people (IDPs) exceeded the figure of 300,000 in 2000, according to independent
estimates.

€

ECHO’s strategy consisted of emergency assistance during and immediately following
displacement; post-emergency assistance including shelter, health care, sanitation and psycho-
social support in the main reception areas; and specific support for return and resettlement
if security conditions allow and if institutional support can be guaranteed.
processes,
Although it
it can be
estimated that between 150,000 and 200,000 internally displaced people were assisted in the
framework of the 2001 Global Plan.

to accurately determine the number of beneficiaries,

is difficult

Humanitarian aid was channelled through international organisations such as the United
Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and European non-governmental
organisations.

An external evaluation was carried out during November and December 2001. The results of
this evaluation will be taken into account when preparing the strategy for 2002.

Exceptionally heavy rains affected Bolivia from December 2000 to March 2001. According
to a report of the National Civil Defence Service dated 5 March, a total of 52,913 people were
affected by the floods, mainly in the departments of La Paz, Cochabamba, Potosí and Beni.
According to IFRC, in the Chaco zone many of the areas that were severely affected by the
floods had up to that point been affected by drought.

ECHO made humanitarian assistance available in order to relieve victims of the floods and
rural communities and overcome the
the drought and to stabilise the livelihood of
consequences of the drought and floods.

Prolonged drought has affected the Chaco region of Paraguay since June 1999. As a
consequence, many subsistence crops have been lost, making the living conditions of many
peasant families very precarious. ECHO contributed to the relief of these families by
distributing food, agriculture inputs and construction water-collecting systems that have
helped around 6,500 families.

A strong earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale struck southern Peru on 23 June
2001. The immediate consequences of the disaster were 83 deaths and 66 missing, 2,812
wounded, 37,500 houses damaged and 22,220 destroyed.

€

ECHO reacted very swiftly and a primary emergency decision to allocate humanitarian aid
amounting to
1.15 million was taken only two days later to help meet the initial urgent needs
of the victims of the earthquake. This was the first time that the Commission made use of its
new system for responding immediately to "sudden onset" humanitarian crises.

€

A further
2 million were earmarked to reduce the vulnerability of the poorest families living
in rural areas affected by the earthquake, by helping them to rebuild their houses with
earthquake-resistant designs, to rehabilitate essential water and irrigation systems, so as to
enable local farmers to restart food production

16

In January and February, El Salvador was hit by two successive earthquakes, devastating
substantial parts of the country. 25% of the population was affected. 270,000 houses were
damaged. ECHO took two decisions, for a total of
10 million. In the first stage its partners
brought basic food and non-food aid as well as health and water and sanitation assistance. In
the second stage, its intervention was more focused on emergency rehabilitation and water
and sanitation.

€

Three years of cumulative rain failures in Central America, combined with a loss of seasonal
jobs due to the drastic fall in world coffee prices, provoked in the latter part of 2001
unprecedented food shortages in some regions, which are still reconstructing from the
aftermath of Hurricane Mitch. Some of the rural families had to eat their contingency stocks
of seeds, thus preventing them from planting for a second harvest. In the most critical regions
of Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, ECHO supplied food or nutritional programs to
try to put in place alternative sustainable feeding systems. ECHO funding in these three
countries amounted to

2.3 million.

€

In November, the region was also hit by Hurricane Michelle, which a couple of days later
affected Cuba, provoking flooding in the north east coastal region of Honduras and Nicaragua
and severe infrastructure damage and loss of crops in Cuba and Jamaica. ECHO chose to
intervene with an emergency decision amounting for

1.05 million.

€

ECHO decided to get involved in the most inaccessible regions of Central America, namely
the Moskitia region of Honduras and department of la RAAN in Nicaragua, with a food aid
program, help to displaced families and a system of epidemiological surveillance and vector
control.

€

8 million was also allocated in 2001, on the one hand for distribution of food,
In Cuba,
hygiene products, medicines and primary needs goods, and on the other hand for short term
rehabilitation work in social centres for the most vulnerable groups, i.e. elderly and mentally
and physically disabled people. It is now considered that development aid is more appropriate
to this country than short-term relief, and as a consequence the ECHO's aid will be phased out
during the year 2002.

ECHO funded a range of operations targeting some 15,000 IDPs and returnees in Chiapas
1.8 million. Projects
province of Mexico, which has been affected by internal conflict with
supported include healthcare, food aid and rehabilitation of homes.

€

2.4.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS - DIPECHO

In 2001, ECHO has pursued its DIPECHO programme, which aims at funding disaster
preparedness activities within a regional framework. Two DIPECHO Action Plans approved
in 2000 were under implementation all through 2001, the Action Plan for Southeast Asia and
the one for Central America.

€

In the same time, ECHO has extended the DIPECHO programme to South Asia and a first
3.2 million was approved in July 2001. Notwithstanding the Gujarat
Plan totalling
earthquake, this Plan focuses on the main natural hazard affecting the region i.e. flooding. The
objective is to enhance communities’ response capacity to floods by making them better
prepared and by promoting a culture of prevention. Training is the best way of improving
country’s response capacity, starting with the villages and the local prevention committees
and involving women and young people in particular. Early warning system and small

17

demonstration projects such as reforestation, backed up with training, can achieve a lot by
raising awareness of the communities and authorities.

€

In December 2001, the Commission has approved the second DIPECHO Plan for the Andean
Community (
1.8 million), which takes into account the recommendations of the evaluation
of the first Plan. As there is no regional cooperation amongst the Andean countries, ECHO
has decided to exclusively focus on local level projects through strengthening local civil
defence committees and health centres, civil society capacity building, awareness-raising of
communities and small-scale mitigation works.

€

The third Action Plan has been also launched by the Commission for the Caribbean region,
Cuba included, with an amount of
3 million. This phase will also be focused on flooding in
order to obtain some concrete results through micro-projects in the context of the DIPECHO
programme. A special accent will be put on the regional effort to reinforce the co-ordination
and the collaboration of each country of the region through an information network and a
€
database dedicated to the natural disasters. For Cuba, an extension (
900,000) due to the
seismic aspect will also be taken into consideration.

3.

CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES

3.1.

RELATIONS WITH PARTNERS - FPA

In 2001, ECHO signed the Framework Partnership Agreement with 27 new partners
(FPA), bringing the total number of NGO Partners to 208. In addition, 300 candidate cases for
partnership were closed and 91 new cases admitted for examination.

During 2001 ECHO carried out a wide consultation exercise with signatory organisations of
the FPA in order to achieve an in-depth revision of the FPA. The revision has been
fundamentally centred on the idea of management of “quality in humanitarian aid”. Special
attention has been given to a change of emphasis by moving away from control of resources
towards planning of objectives and results. This revision is the second stage in adjustments to
the FPA to the objectives established by the Commission in its Communication “Assessment
and future of Community humanitarian activities” 6 and it will continue in 2002.

3.2.

GRANT FACILITY

At regular intervals, ECHO launches a grant facility for training, studies and networks in the
humanitarian field. ECHO made available a total of
1,6 million. Projects selected include
training courses on security and studies on quality and early detection of man-made crises.

€

The network on humanitarian assistance (NOHA), launched in 1994, is a one-year multi-
disciplinary post-graduate diploma in the humanitarian field. The curriculum provides a
comprehensive overview of the humanitarian aid environment and is complemented by an
internship either in a humanitarian organisation or in ECHO. Around 20 students attend the
course in each of the eight participating European universities. ECHO’s financial contribution
to the coordination costs of the network was

270,053 in the year 2001.

€

6

Communication COM (1999)468 final of 26.10.1999 on "Assessment and future of Community
humanitarian activities" (article 20 of Regulation (EC) 1257/96).

18

3.3.

COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION

ECHO’s information and communication activities during 2001 reflected the new strategy
adopted the previous year with its emphasis on defining target audiences more clearly,
developing the use of new web-based techniques, adopting more structured objectives and
establishing closer links between ECHO headquarters and field offices. The outcome of this
approach included the publication of six leaflets highlighting ECHO’s work in particular
crisis zones or sectors, in response to a demand for more specific information, and the
elaboration of local communication plans providing a framework for coherent and effective
information action at field level. ECHO also restructured its website to boost the transparency
of its actions and provide additional information tools for its operational partners.

Two important documents provided the basis for forward thinking in the information/
communication sphere. The first was the outcome of an independent evaluation
commissioned by ECHO into a number of activities financed under its Grant Facility,
including awareness-raising projects. The evaluator concluded that the grants were ‘highly
effective’ but nonetheless made recommendations to deal with certain shortcomings identified
in the system. These included improved strategic planning, more focused priorities and closer
coordination with operational and field staff. The second document reported the results of an
EU-wide opinion poll carried out early in 2001 by Eurobarometer, which contained a series
of questions provided by ECHO. The aim was to gauge the level of public knowledge of
ECHO and of humanitarian issues more generally, and to obtain a better understanding of
European attitudes in this area. The poll revealed considerable support for the principle of
European humanitarian assistance but relatively low recognition levels for the European
Commission as a key humanitarian actor. It also highlighted a desire among respondents for
more information about how the system works and about the concrete results of ECHO’s
interventions.

The detailed conclusions of both the evaluation and the Eurobarometer poll are being
integrated into ECHO’s continuing efforts to maximise the impact of its information and
communication activities.

During 2001, ECHO funded a range of
information and communication actions.
Publications included the Annual Review, the quarterly newsletter “ECHO News” and leaflets
on Sierra Leone, Guinea, Central America, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan
(two versions) and Children at War. The issue of Child Soldiers was also highlighted in
October at a conference in Brussels organised with VOICE (Voluntary Organisations in
Cooperation in Emergencies) with the collaboration of the Save the Children Fund (UK).

3.4.

BUDGET, AUDIT AND EVALUATION

€

ECHO's response to humanitarian crises in 2001 has been channelled through 107 funding
decisions totalling
543.7 million (from the EU Budget and the EDF). Following the great
number of unforeseeable emergencies which occurred throughout the year and further to the
events of September 11th, ECHO had to call on the use of the emergency aid reserve for an
50 million in commitment appropriations. 1031 operation contracts were signed
amount of
in 2001 (this includes 143 contracts to implement 2000 decisions). The rate of budget
implementation in terms of commitment appropriations was 100% in 2001. The rate of budget
implementation in terms of payment appropriations was 90,5 % in 2001

€

Financial audits and controls are undertaken both at the headquarters of ECHO's partners and
at their field offices located in beneficiary countries that are the scene of humanitarian

19

operations. In 2000 ECHO undertook 11 audits. In 2001 this number was increased to 27
audits. Of these 27 audits, nine were at the offices of partners in beneficiary countries. Also in
2001 for the first time ECHO contracted out 4 audits, one dealing with the ECHO Flight
operation and three with NGO's who had in the past been associated with purchasing centres.
For 2003 the number of audits at headquarters is to be at least 50, with no change in the
number of field audits. The headquarters audit of 50 partners a year should result in a three
year audit cycle for the major recipients of ECHO's financing. The results of the audits have
not only been used in the liquidation of operation contracts but also in the revision of ECHO's
principal tool, the FPA.

During 2001, ECHO implemented a further evaluation programme, usually undertaken on
the principle of mixing the « ex post » and « ex ante » approach. Certain studies begun in
2000, like Angola, were completed and acted upon, while other country programmes like the
Democratic Republic of Congo, Timor and Saharaoui refugees were undertaken during the
year. Further evaluations like that of the programme in Colombia were underway at the end of
the year.

In addition there was a global assessment of the various grants and subsidies granted by
ECHO and, by year-end, an evaluation of contracts with UNHCR in certain chosen countries
was almost complete. The former has already led to a first revision of procedures in line with
its recommendations, while the latter, undertaken with the full cooperation of the UNHCR, is
designed to improve the effectiveness of cooperation between ECHO and UNHCR.

In an attempt to widen the pool of known and proven evaluators of humanitarian aid, ECHO
also published on the Web and in the Official Journal a call for a show of interest among
firms and individuals. Applicants are vetted by a Committee before being put on the list of
approved evaluators. The results are published on the Web.

4.

OUTLOOK AND PERSPECTIVES

The current global disaster situation continues to confront the humanitarian community with
three major challenges: persistence of protracted man-made crises; emerging crisis theatres in
areas considered more or less stable in the past; and increasingly adverse effects of natural
disasters. The global trend towards more frequent and more damaging disasters continues,
aggravating demographic changes, environmental degradation, changes of land-use and other
factors, particularly in the least developed and conflict-ridden states.

Research institutions estimate that 2.2 million people were killed in conflicts since 1991. The
number of wars and violent crises has increased from 27 in 1997 to 31 in 1998 and to 38 at
the end of 20017. It is the civilian population, and in particular its most vulnerable members
like children, the youth, women, ageing or handicapped people which suffer most and which
are of main concern for the humanitarian community. The number of refugees and internally
displaced persons (IDPs) highlights the humanitarian dimension of the global geopolitical
situation. In 2001, the total number of refugees remained at 11.7 million. The Global IDP
project estimates the number of IDPs at 25 million by the end of 2001. Although lower than in
the mid-nineties, these figures are still unacceptably high8.

7

8

Heidelberg Institute for
International Conflict Research (HIIK), Annual Conflict Barometer:
http://www.conflicts.com/hiik/frame_en.html. For more information see CRED http://www.cred.be and
SIPRI http://www.sipri.se/.
Sources: UNHCR Basic Facts, http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home?page=basics. UNHCR:
Global Refugee Trends January - June 2001 (14 September 2001). IFRC World Disasters Report 2001.

20

In view of these overall trends, it remains a primary task for the humanitarian community to
develop policies and strategies that can ensure effective spending of available resources to
meet the most urgent and pressing humanitarian needs. The current
institutional reform
process within the European Community’s institutions, therefore, provides a unique window
of opportunity for ECHO to re-position itself within an evolving institutional context. In
2001, ECHO has made considerable progress in developing and implementing internal reform
measures and new procedures, such as the primary emergency decision procedure. Many of
these measures will be tested and complemented in the year 2002 and beyond.

5.

STATISTICAL ANNEXES

€

Annex 1: ECHO’s budget in 2001 was
543,703,460 (Annex 1A). The total number of
contracts signed in 2001 is 1031, 807 of which were on the 2001 budget. This difference is
explained by the fact that a large number of contracts signed in 2001 actually implement 2000
decisions. The main source of finance is budget line B7-210, as can be seen in Annex 1B.
€
20,750,000 have been used from the EDF (European Development Fund) budget. The
amount on budget line B7-210A concerns administrative management (e.g. studies, training
and information activities).

Annex 2: Annex 2 presents the geographic distribution of aid by region. DIPECHO and multi-
country decisions were attributed, where possible, under the respective geographical region.
Annex 2A shows no major changes between 2001 and 2000. However, a slight increase in the
aid for Asia can be seen, whereas assistance to the Western Balkans decreased. Annex 2B
focuses on the respective geographical sub-regions in 2001 rather than individual countries.
The main item of the “Global” section encompasses the costs for the network of field experts.

Annex 3: In 2001, there had been a significant increase of the allocations to the UN family
(Annex 3A). More than ¼ of all ECHO funding went to UN agencies, whereas in 2000
contributions to the UN were less than 20%. Main UN partners in 2001 were UNHCR (8.6%),
WFP (7.25%), UNRWA (4.84%) and UNICEF (3.89%). A certain number of those contracts
implement decisions of previous years. Therefore, the figure for 2001 is higher than the actual
2001 budget.

Annex 4: Most projects funded under the Grant Facility 2001 were allocated for the training
1,125,578). Decisions
of NGOs including security training and assistance to NGO networks (
foresaw
1.55 million were
allocated to contracts in 2001.

1.60 million to grant facilities for studies and training, whereas

€

€

€

Committee.

U.S.
2001:
http://www.refugees.org/world/statistics/wrs01_table5.htm. Global Overview of the Global IDP project:
http://www.idpproject.org/global_overview.htm.

Refugees:

Refugee

Survey

World

for

21

Annex 1: Overview of Financial Decisions 1995-2001

Financial Decisions for EC Humanitarian
Aid 1995-2001 (amounts in

€

)

1995

692,092,512

1996

656,655,500

1997

441,611,954

1998

517,657,060

1999

812,911,000

2000

491,715,000

2001

543,703,460

Annex 1A: ECHO Contracts 1998-2001

Number of ECHO Contracts 1998-2001

financial year

contract signature year

1998

1238

1999

1291

2000

751

2001

807

1416

1290

993

1031

22

Annex 1B: Financial Decisions for EC Humanitarian Aid by Source of Finance

Source
of
finance/ budget
line

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

Description

DECISIONS
in ECU

DECISIONS
in ECU

DECISIONS
in ECU

DECISIONS
in ECU

DECISIONS
in Euro

DECISIONS
in Euro

DECISIONS
in Euro

LOME IV

ART 164 and ART 254 (1)

46,456,000

3,487,000

7,420,000

37,387,000

83,082,000

2,850,000

20,750,000

DISASTER
COUNTRIES

B7-510

B-210 A

AID

DEVELOPING

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

3,360,000

4,800,000

B7-210

(2)

238,339,500

386,550,000

212,162,954

283,089,060

197,974,000

478,005,000

510,153,468

B7-511

EMERGENCY FOOD AID

_

B7-211

(2)

33,710,000

B7-514

HUMANITARIAN AID TO C & E
EUROPE

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

B7-214

(2)

236,670,000

187,150,000

158,985,000

135,097,000

450,250,000

B7-515

HUMANITARIAN AID TO EX-USSR

_

_

_

_

_

B7-215

(2)

93,350,000

49,750,000

36,050,000

37,040,000

55,325,000

B7-516

HUMANITARIAN ACTION IN 3RD
COUNTRIES

_

B7-216

(2)

B7-517

REFUGEES & DISPL, PERSONS IN
DEV, COUNTRIES

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

B7-217

(2)

38,540,000

21,420,000

19,960,000

17,044,000

18,360,000

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

B7-219

B7-644

TOTAL

OPERATIONAL SUPPORT, DISASTER
PREPAR.

5,027,012

6,298,500

7,034,000

8,000,000

7,570,000

7,500,000

8,000,000

HUMANITARIAN AID TO WESTERN
SAHARA POP.

_

2,000,000

_

_

_

_

_

692,092,512

656,655,500

441,611,954

517,657,060

812,561,000

491,715,000

543,703,468

(1) First 5-year allocation under LOME IV (1991-95) was 250,000,000 ECU. The second (1996-2000) was 143,000,000 ECU. In 1999, only Art 254/F8.

(2) In 1995, the budget chapter that corresponds to ECHO becomes B7-200 instead of B7-500.

23

Annex 2: Financial Decisions in 2001 – Geographical Distribution

Financial Decisions for EC Humanitarian Aid by Region in %

€

543,703,000

33%

20%

15%

7%

11%

11%

3%

Total decisions in 2001:

ACP-countries

Asia

Ex-Yugoslavia-W. Balkans

Latin America

Middle East, North Africa

NIS

Global

24

Annex 2A : geographical Distribution of Financial Decisions 1999-2001

Financial Decisions for EC Humanitarian Aid by Region 1999-200

ACP-countries

Asia

1999

16%

11%

Ex-Yugoslavia-W. Balkans

55%

Latin America

Middle East, North Africa

NIS

Global

6%

3%

7%

2%

2000

2001

35%

16%

20%

6%

10%

10%

3%

33%

20%

15%

7%

11%

11%

3%

25

Annex 2B: Distribution of funding decisions by country : (sub)-region

Financial decisions for humanitarian aid by region in 2001

Country/sub-region

Decisions in

€

m

Country/sub-region

AFRICA, CARIBBEAN, PACIFIC

173.320

ASIA

Decisions in

€

m

104.354

Angola

Burundi

Burkina Faso, Chad

Central African Republic

Congo (Democratic Republic)

ECHO Flight

Ethiopia

Eritrea

Kenya

Madagascar

Mozambique

Caribbean/Pacific

Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia

Somalia

Sudan

Tanzania

Zimbabwe

09.000

20.000

02.550

01.000

35.000

08.400

09.200

07.000

04.600

00.900

02.840

00.880

20.600

01.700

17.000

32.150

00.500

Afghanistan/Pakistan/Iran

Cambodia

China

East Timor

India

Indonesia

Myanmar/Burma

Nepal

North Korea

Philippines

Sri Lanka

Thailand

Vietnam

LATIN AMERICA

Bolivia, Paraguay

Colombia

Cuba

EASTERN EUROPE/NIS

141.480

El Salvador

Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine

Mongolia

1.900

1.030

Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua

Mexico

Russian Federation (Chechnya crisis)

40.350

Peru

Armenia, Georgia

Tajikistan

Western Balkans

(Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo,

3.150

12.000

DIPECHO

Andean Community

Caribbean

South Asia

Albania, FYROM, Bosnia-Herzegovina)

83.050

OTHER EXPENSES

26

54.680

04.900

02.150

11.274

14.602

02.200

01.990

02.000

03.365

01.460

00.700

04.500

00.533

38.250

01.950

10.000

08.000

10.000

03.350

01.800

03.150

08.000

01.800

03.000

03.200

17.250

MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA

61.049

Grants for studies etc.

Algeria

Iraq

Middle East

Western Saharan refugees

Yemen

0.759

12.875

29.960

15.570

01.885

Expenses for field experts

Training

Audit

Information

Evaluation

TOTAL

01.600

11.450

00.250

02.600

00.350

01.000

543.703

27

Annex 3: Distribution of Contracts by Implementing Partners

EC Humanitarian Assistance in 2001 by Groups of Partners
(contract signature year)

EC NGOs

United Nations

62,5%

26,5%

Other Int'l Organisations

7,9%

Non-EC NGOs

EC Direct

Others

1,2%

0,9%

1,0%

28

Annex 3A: Distribution of Funding by Groups of Partners 1999-2001

Distribution of ECHO Funding by Groups of Partners
1999-2001(contract signature year)

1999

2000

2001

EC NGOs

62,2%

65,5% 62,5%

United Nations

19,8%

19,2% 26,5%

Other Int'l Organisations

7,0%

10,2%

7,9%

Non-EC NGOs

3,6%

3,5%

1,2%

EC Direct

4,7%

0,7%

0,9%

Others

2,7%

0,7%

1,0%

29

Annex 3B: ECHO Contracts by Groups and Nationality of Partners 1999-2001

ECHO contracts by group and nationality of partners 1999 - 2001 (contract signature year)

TYPE
CONTRACT

OF

1999

2000

2001

EURO

IN % OF

EURO

IN % OF

EURO

IN % OF

TOTAL

TOTAL

TOTAL

EC COMMISSION-DIRECT

SUBTOTAL

34.319.273

4,7%

3.673.811

0,67%

4.998.732

0,90%

MEMBER STATES SPECIALIZED AGENCIES

SUBTOTAL

5.302.900

0,7%

1.560.000

0,29%

700.000

0,13%

OTHER GOVERNMENTS

SUBTOTAL

698.192

0,1%

0

0,00%

240.000

0,04%

EC NGOs (1)

AUSTRIA

BELGIUM

4.598.195

0,6%

3.090.500

0,6%

3.280.000

0,6%

29.953.028

4,1%

35.691.414

6,5%

25.355.326

4,6%

DENMARK

27.625.812

3,8%

31.555.000

5,8%

31.623.581

5,7%

FINLAND

FRANCE

2.829.189

0,4%

1.800.000

0,3%

2.102.500

0,4%

93.620.821

12,7%

73.626.185

13,5%

63.005.571

11,4%

GERMANY

44.822.769

6,1%

33.348.817

6,1%

40.777.940

7,4%

GREECE

IRELAND

ITALY

10.397.000

1,4%

6.680.000

1,2%

4.746.291

0,9%

9.002.464

1,2%

8.915.000

1,6%

5.791.213

1,0%

82.042.100

11,2%

54.031.478

9,9%

50.803.771

9,2%

LUXEMBOURG

0

0,0%

136.050

0,0%

0

0,0%

NETHERLANDS

25.869.500

3,5%

18.313.190

3,4%

16.759.500

3,0%

PORTUGAL

3.000.000

0,4%

2.680.000

0,5%

2.890.000

0,5%

SPAIN

SWEDEN

UK

46.374.270

6,3%

33.288.771

6,1%

38.491.750

6,9%

1.420.000

0,2%

810.000

0,1%

600.000

0,1%

75.251.493

10,2%

53.085.717

9,7%

60.210.955

10,9%

SUBTOTAL

456.806.641

62,2%

357.052.122

65,50%

346.438.398

62,53%

OTHER NGOs (1)

30

CANADA

NORWAY

2.450.000

0,3%

979.000

0,18%

4.400.000

0,79%

700

0,00%

SWITZERLAND

4.405.000

0,6%

2.680.000

0,49%

2.030.000

0,37%

USA

19.877.445

2,7%

15.711.000

2,88%

460.000

0,08%

SUBTOTAL

26.732.445

3,6%

19.370.000

3,55%

6.890.700

1,24%

LOCAL NGOs (1)

SUBTOTAL

2.000.000

0,3%

3.001.293

0,55%

4.162.000

0,75%

UNITED NATIONS

FAO

OHCHR

IDNDR

PAHO

UNFPA

UNDP

UNESCO

UNHCR

UNHCS

UNICEF

UNOCHA

UNRWA

WFP

WHO

560.000

0,1%

880.000

0,16%

2.560.000

0,46%

50.000

0,01%

123.000

0,0%

0,00%

0,00%

0,0%

0,0%

500.000

0,09%

600.000

0,11%

1.040.000

0,19%

0,00%

4.396.000

0,6%

2.000.000

0,37%

2.918.000

0,53%

0,0%

0,00%

0,00%

82.157.000

11,2%

35.104.000

6,44%

47.665.000

8,60%

0,0%

2.495.000

0,46%

500.000

0,09%

15.959.000

2,2%

12.091.000

2,22%

21.576.000

3,89%

445.000

0,1%

0,00%

640.000

0,12%

1.020.000

0,1%

5.780.000

1,06%

26.800.000

4,84%

33.695.000

4,6%

43.250.000

7,93%

40.152.896

7,25%

7.200.000

1,0%

1.740.000

0,32%

3.486.000

0,63%

SUBTOTAL

145.555.000

19,8%

104.880.000

19,24%

146.947.896

26,52%

OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORG. (incl. ICRC, IFRC)

SUBTOTAL

51.179.632

7,0%

55.595.000

10,20%

43.640.000

7,88%

Decommitments

Others

TOTAL

12.044.701

1,6%

1.050

0,00%

734.638.784

100%

545.133.276

100%

554.017.726

100%

INCLUDING NATIONAL RED

(1)
CROSS ASSOCIATIONS

Source: ECHOSTAT as per 08/01/02

31

Annex 4: Projects funded under the Grant Facility 2001

Applicant

Project

Studies and networks

URD (Groupe Urgence Rehabilitation
Developpement), France

Quality Project

Heidelberg University, Germany

Early Detection of man-made crises

€

Grant

110,013

148,440

ODI (Overseas Development Institute),
UK

Measurement of humanitarian need: A study to examine the
feasibility of developing comparable indicators of need.

78,401

DRC
Danmark

(Danish

Refugee

Council),

The Caucasus Refugee/IDPs NGO Network

95,581

Subtotal Studies and networks

432,435

Training

CONCERN Universal

West African Humanitarian Training and network building

148,781

Deutsche Welthungerhilfe, Germany

Enhancement of security and safety management

150,000

Finnish Red Cross, Finland

Security and safety for humanitarian field workers

VOICE, Belgium

Improving the quality of humanitarian aid in conflict
situations : training for good practice

79,500

63,998

Medicos del Mundo, Spain

Formation des professionnels de terrain (expatries ou locaux)
et du personnel d'encadrement des projets d'aide humanitaire

150,000

European Perspective, Greece

Training and capacity-building for
professionals in humanitarian aid in Greece

active

and future

71,291

Deusto University, Spain

NOHA : Network in humanitarian assistance

Save the Children, UK

Capacity building for local NGOs in child focused approaches
to emergency prevention, mitigation and response in Latin
America and Caribbean

270,053

97,911

BIOFORCE, France

Réalisation d'un outil pédagogique pour
personnels humanitaires

la sécurité de

94,044

Subtotal Training

Information

COSV, Italy

1.125,578

Television campaign EUROSPORT

113,622

Holocaust Centre, UK

Production of an authoritative report on genocide prevention

83,165

CISP, Italy

Media campaign – Sahrawi Refugees

42,000

32

Humanitäre
Germany

Nothilfe

Programme,

Itinerant Multimedia Exposition

Movimondo, Italy

Information campaign in Italian press

Subtotal Information

60,000

34,300

333,087

33

ECHO Information - Grant Agreements 2001

Recipient

Country

ORGANIZATIONS

IN
EMERGENCIES

IN

VOLUNTARY
COOPERATION
(VOICE)

CROIX-ROUGE

UNITED NATIONS - WORLD FOOD
PROGRAM - LIAISON OFFICE (UN-WFP)

ACTION CONTRE LA FAIM (ACF)

B

B

I

F

Amount
granted in
EUR

Rate of
financing
(in relation
to total
budget)

Subject

18.725,00

74,47% Seminar: "Child Soldiers",

October 2001

12.487,00

30,00% Publication: "Child Soldiers"

52.895,58

53,00% Hunger awareness campaign

in schools, Italy

50.000,00

41,74% Awareness

raising

event
during the Word Food Day,
Paris, October 2001

FARMACEUTICOS
(FSFE)

SIN

FRONTERAS

E

92.723,00

80,00% Awareness raising campaign
in schools and universities
on Humanitarian Aid - the
role of NGOs and ECHO,
Spain

MEDICOS DEL MUNDO

CROIX-ROUGE

COMITATO INTERNAZIONALE PER LO
SVILUPPO DEI POPOLI (CISP)

E

B

I

18.000,00

25,49% International

Forum on
2002,

February

Gender,
Madrid

15.100,00

71,90% Awareness raising project:
"tracing
a
for young people

Production of
game"
simulating a crises situation

42.000,00

65,00% Information

campaign

on

Sahrawi Refugees

HOLOCAUST CENTRE

UK

83.165,00

15,52% Production of a report on
genocide prevention

COMITATO
DELLE
SERVIZIO VOLONTARIO (COSV)

ORGANIZZAZIONI

COORDINAMENTO
IL

PER

DI

MOVIMONDO

I

I

113.622,00

69,69% Television

EUROsolidarity
sport, Eurosport

campaign:
through

34.300,00

75,38% Information campaign:

everybody is equal
war', Italy

'Not
in the

HUMANITARIAN
(H.A.R.)

AFFAIRS

REVIEW

B

108.154,00

40,00% Publication:

"Humanitarian
Affairs Review", 3 issues in
2001

34

35