Hidden disaster.
Date: 2010-02-02
Institutions: Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)
Subjects: humanitarian aid, operation of the Institutions, public awareness campaign

Hidden disaster

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doi: 10.2795/11166

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Hidden disaster

E R I K   B O N G E R S

Special thanks to Thorsten Münch for his vital input to the story.
Special thanks to Alexandre Istratov for allowing the use of his photographic vistas of Brussels.
http://www.istratov.be

“Hidden disaster” is a wholly fictitious story written to illustrate how the European Commission’s Humanitarian 
Aid department responds to crises, from a human interest angle. Any resemblance to real people is entirely 
coincidental. 

Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers 
to your questions about the European Union

Freephone number (*):
00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11
(*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers or these calls may 
be billed.

More information on the European Union is available on the Internet:  http://europa.eu 

For information about the European Commission’s humanitarian aid, see:  http://ec.europa.eu/echo

Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication.

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2010

KR-31-09-144-EN-C
ISBN: 978-92-79-13380-0
doi: 10.2795/11166

© European Union, 2010
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.

Printed in Germany

Day 1.

GOOD EVENING. 
AT LEAST TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE BELIEVED 
TO HAVE BEEN KILLED AND MORE THAN TEN 
THOUSAND INJURED IN A POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE 
THAT STRUCK BORDUVIA LAST NIGHT. THE 
EPICENTRE WAS IN THE URGI MOUNTAINS IN THE 
NORTH OF THE COUNTRY.

STEVEN BRAVERS IS IN THE 
NORTH BORDUVIAN CITY OF 
KELLOW...

...BUT OUTSIDE THE CITY IT MAY BE EVEN 
WORSE. THERE ARE REPORTS FROM THE REBEL-
CONTROLLED URGI MOUNTAINS THAT LANDSLIDES 
HAVE BLOCKED MANY RIVERS AND THAT FLOODS 
ARE NOW THE BIGGEST THREAT.

BRUSSELS. EUROPEAN QUARTER.

FLOODS !?!

3

ECHO – THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S HUMANITARIAN AID DEPARTMENT

FLOODS WOULD MAKE THE SITUATION EVEN 
WORSE! THE BORDUVIAN GOVERNMENT MUST BE 
STRUGGLING TO COPE WITH THE HUMANITARIAN 
NEEDS!

WE MUST INFORM THE COMMISSIONER! SHE’S 
BRIEFING THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ON THE 
EARTHQUAKE TOMORROW AND NEEDS TO BE 
UPDATED ON THE FLOOD RISK. SHE SHOULD ALSO 
KNOW THAT THIS HASN’T YET BEEN CONFIRMED 
BY THE BORDUVIAN AUTHORITIES.

YES, WE HAVE TO BE VERY 
DIPLOMATIC WITH THE BORDUVIANS! 
THE CONFLICT WITH THE REBELS 
COMPLICATES THE SITUATION. WE 
CAN’T RISK JEOPARDISING THE AID 
EFFORT WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE ARE 
SUFFERING!

ARE THERE ANY REPORTS FROM THE FIELD 
MAX?

FOR THE EMERGENCY FUNDING WE’VE 
PREPARED A €3 MILLION FAST TRACK 
DECISION AND HAVE SEVERAL PARTNER 
ORGANISATIONS ON STAND-BY.

RED CROSS AND UNITED NATIONS ARE 
SETTING UP IN KELLOW AND MORE 
RELIEF AGENCIES WILL ARRIVE IN THE 
COMING DAYS. WE’VE ALREADY RECEIVED 
SOME REQUESTS FOR FUNDING.

THINGS ARE MOVING RAPIDLY IN THE GOVERNMENT-
HELD AREA, BUT I’M MORE WORRIED ABOUT THE URGI 
MOUNTAINS WHERE THE REBELS ARE IN CONTROL.

AS DESK OFFICER FOR 
BORDUVIA, I REALLY NEED 
MORE INFORMATION! 
I DON’T HAVE A FULL 
PICTURE OF WHAT’S GOING 

ON YET!

THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE’VE NO CONTACT 
WITH THE REBELS AND NO FEEDBACK FROM THE 
GOVERNMENT ABOUT THE SITUATION IN THE 
NORTH. WITHOUT THIS IT’S DIFFICULT TO START 
WORK ON FOLLOW-UP MEASURES...

4

I THINK WE’LL PROBABLY 
NEED EXTRA FUNDING...

WE ALL KNOW THE FIRST DAYS ARE 
CRUCIAL! IF IT’S TRUE ABOUT THE 
FLOODS, WE SHOULD BE GETTING 
HELP TO THE URGI MOUNTAINS 
RIGHT NOW. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF 
PEOPLE ARE IN GOVERNMENT OR 
REBEL-HELD TERRITORY. THEY ALL 
NEED HELP!

YOU’RE RIGHT OF COURSE, 
BUT WE CAN’T GET ACCESS 
TO THE MOUNTAINS!

WE SHOULD TALK TO THE EU 
AMBASSADOR IN BORDUVIA. WE NEED 
TO USE ALL POSSIBLE DIPLOMATIC 
CHANNELS TO GET PERMISSION FOR A 
FIELD TEAM TO GO IN.

THAT COULD TAKE A WHILE! WE 
SHOULD START BY SENDING 
AN EXPERT FOR AN INITIAL 
ASSESSMENT.

GOOD IDEA! SO IT’S AGREED THAT 
WE SEND A FIELD EXPERT TO 
ASSESS THE SITUATION IN THE 
URGI MOUNTAINS!

IT MIGHT BE EASIER TO 
GET A SINGLE PERMIT...

MAX, SOMETHING TELLS 
ME YOU ALREADY HAVE 
SOMEONE IN MIND!

OH, YES!

I KNOW EXACTLY WHO 
WE SHOULD SEND!

5

day 4.

WELCOME TO KELLOW MISS ZANA! SO YOU 
ARE FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION? 
YOU WILL BE INTERESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT 
HAS HAPPENED TO THE CITY. I WILL FLY 

OVER THE VALLEY SO YOU CAN SEE FOR 

YOURSELF!

THANK YOU! 
HOW BAD IS THE SITUATION?

IT DEPENDS ON 
THE AREA.

THE CITY CENTRE RIGHT IN 
FRONT OF US IS NOT TOO BADLY 
AFFECTED. ONLY A FEW BUILDINGS 
COLLAPSED AND THE ARMY IS 
TAKING CARE OF THE CLEAN UP...

... AND SOME INTERNATIONAL 
ORGANISATIONS ARE ALREADY 
HELPING WITH FIRST AID.

WE ARE FLYING IN ESSENTIAL 
GOODS TO PEOPLE IN REMOTE 
VILLAGES. BUT WE DON’T HAVE 
ENOUGH HELICOPTERS AND THERE 
ARE ONLY SO MANY TRIPS WE CAN 
MAKE IN A DAY. WE HAVE TO COVER 
A HUGE AREA.

THAT’S GOOD. WHAT ABOUT 
THE OTHER NEEDS? SHELTER, 
FOOD, BLANKETS...

6

WHERE IS THAT SMOKE ON THE HILLSIDE COMING 
FROM?

FUNERALS I THINK. THE KELLOW HILLS 
ARE WHERE THE POOR PEOPLE LIVE. 
THEY HAVE BEEN HIT VERY HARD BY 
THE EARTHQUAKE. THERE WERE MANY 
LANDSLIDES, SO YOU CAN IMAGINE...

ARE THE SURVIVORS 
THERE GETTING ANY 
HELP?

YOU MEAN WITH STUFF 
LIKE TENTS AND FOOD....?

YES.

WELL ... I'M NOT
SURE ...

WELL, I SUPPOSE I’LL 
HEAR MORE ABOUT IT AT 
MY FIRST BRIEFING!

OK, THANKS FOR DROPPING ME OFF AND FOR 
THE GUIDED TOUR!

7

day 5.

KELLOW, UNITED NATIONS BASE CAMP

GOOD MORNING,
EVERYONE!

WELCOME TO TODAY’S BRIEFING. 
FIRST I WANT TO WELCOME AND 
INTRODUCE ZANA TO THE TEAM.

ZANA IS AN ECHO FIELD EXPERT - FROM 
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION. SHE’S HERE 
TO ASSESS THE SITUATION IN THE URGI 
MOUNTAINS. THE INFORMATION SHE OBTAINS 
WILL BE VITAL TO EXPANDING OUR EFFORTS 
IN THAT AREA...

WHILE WE WAIT FOR HER TRAVEL 
PERMITS TO ARRIVE, ZANA WILL 
BE WORKING WITH THE TEAM 
HERE.

OK, STATUS REPORT
THEN...

OUR CURRENT ESTIMATE IS 
20,000 DEAD AND I’M SORRY 
TO SAY THE COUNT IS RAPIDLY 
RISING! ABOUT 30,000 ARE 
INJURED…

WITH MORE AND MORE AID ORGANISATIONS 
ARRIVING, IT’S IMPORTANT WE USE THESE 
MORNING MEETINGS TO COORDINATE OUR 
EFFORTS. I’D LIKE A REGULAR UPDATE FROM 
EVERY ORGANISATION PRESENT HERE!

WE’RE TREATING PEOPLE WITH 
VARIOUS WOUNDS IN THE RED CROSS 
FIELD HOSPITAL. BUT THERE ARE A 
LOT OF EMPTY BEDS. SOMETHING IS 
PREVENTING INJURED PEOPLE REACHING 
US.

IT COULD BE BECAUSE THE ROADS 
ARE BLOCKED OR BECAUSE THEY 
SIMPLY DON’T KNOW ABOUT THE 
FIELD HOSPITAL.

8

WHEN OUR TEAMS (1) TAKE SATELLITE PHONES TO 
ISOLATED AREAS, THEY’RE ALWAYS ACCOMPANIED BY 
SOMEONE WHO SPEAKS THE LOCAL DIALECT. PERHAPS 
THE INTERPRETERS SHOULD TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THE 
FIELD HOSPITAL...

WE(2) HAVE ONLY SENT A FEW 
SHIPMENTS TO THE KELLOW 
HILLS. IT WAS ASSUMED PEOPLE 
THERE WOULD COME DOWN TO 
THE CITY FOR HELP...

IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK AS 
IF VERY FEW HILL PEOPLE ARE 
COMING DOWN TO THE RELIEF 
CAMPS...

I THINK I
KNOW WHY!

MY NAME IS TESJANG. MY “CLEAN 
WATER” ORGANISATION INSTALLS WATER 
PUMPS AND FILTERS FOR THE VILLAGES IN 
THE HILLS - SO I KNOW THEM WELL!...

THERE’S DEFINITELY A SOCIAL BARRIER. 
HILL PEOPLE SEE THE CITY AS BEING OFF 
LIMITS. WE NEED TO PERSUADE THEM TO 
COME DOWN. I AM WILLING TO GO AND 
TELL THEM ABOUT THE HELP AVAILABLE IN 
THE CAMPS AND THE HOSPITAL.

I COULD JOIN TESJANG! I 
CAN ASSESS NEEDS AT THE 
SAME TIME...

(1) Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF), French non-governmental organisation (NGO)
(2) United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP)

9

SO, WE HAVE A DEAL! I’LL BE 
YOUR GUIDE FOR THE KELLOW 
HILLS TOMORROW AND YOU’LL 
LET ME JOIN YOU TODAY AT 
THE RELIEF CAMP!

THIS IS A NEW EXPERIENCE 
FOR ME. MY ORGANISATION 
SPECIALISES IN RURAL WATER 
INSTALLATIONS. I’VE NEVER 
BEEN TO A DISASTER RELIEF 
CAMP...

DEAL! LET’S WALK. 
I’M TOLD IT’S NOT 
VERY FAR...

SO, ARE THERE MANY PEOPLE 
FROM THE EUROPEAN 
COMMISSION HERE?

NO. THE AID IS CHANNELLED THROUGH 
ORGANISATIONS LIKE UNICEF OR 
OXFAM. WHEN THE COMMISSION 
FINANCES THEM, THEY BECOME 
WHAT WE CALL OUR “IMPLEMENTING 
PARTNERS”.

SO, THEY PROPOSE A PROJECT 
AND THE COMMISSION FUNDS IT 
THROUGH ECHO...

AND WHAT’S YOUR JOB?

I’M REALLY GLAD TO 
HAVE YOU ALONG. I’LL BE 
WRITING A SITUATION 
REPORT – WE CALL 
IT A “SITREP” - FOR 
OUR HEADQUARTERS 
IN BRUSSELS AND 
YOU CAN HELP WITH 
INTERPRETATION!

I’M A HUMANITARIAN “FIELD 
EXPERT”. I LOOK AT WHAT’S 
NEEDED IN A CRISIS AND CHECK 
THAT THE AID GETS TO THE 
PEOPLE THAT NEED IT MOST.

BASICALLY, I’M THE EYES AND 
EARS OF ECHO. I WORK WITH THE 
“DESK OFFICER” IN BRUSSELS 
WHO COORDINATES EVERYTHING.

I SEE. SO THE DESK 
OFFICER HAS AN OVERVIEW 
OF ALL THE PROJECTS 
AROUND THE WORLD...

NO, NOT AROUND 
THE WORLD...

THERE ARE DESK OFFICERS FOR 
EACH CRISIS ZONE OR COUNTRY. 
FOR THIS REGION THE DESK 
OFFICER IS MAX. I SEND HIM 
REGULAR SITREPS.

10

IN FACT I HAVE TO WRITE 
ABOUT MY VISIT TO THIS 
CAMP FOR A SITREP. SO 
LET’S GET TO WORK!

PHEW! ... I HARDLY 
RECOGNISE THIS 
PLACE!

OK, REGISTRATION...

I SUGGEST WE 
START WHERE THE 
NEW ARRIVALS ARE 
REGISTERED.

LET ME SEE...

ASSESSMENT OF INFORMAL CAMP IN KELLOW FOR DISPLACED PEOPLE. ENTRY AND REGISTRATION OF NEW ARRIVALS WELL-ORGANISED BY THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES.

HE SAYS THAT IN HIS 
VILLAGE, MORE THAN A 
HUNDRED PEOPLE DIED...

I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT I 
WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW 
HOW MANY SURVIVORS FROM 
HIS VILLAGE NEED HELP.

11

THE CAMP RELIES ON LARGE STORAGE BLADDERS FOR ITS WATER SUPPLY. THERE ARE ENOUGH OF THESE, BUT CHILDREN ARE PLAYING ON TOP OF THEM AND THEY ARE LIKELY TO GET 
DAMAGED. THEY NEED TO BE ENCLOSED FOR PROTECTION.

YES, YES, I KNOW YOU’RE 
HAVING FUN BUT WHAT IF 
YOU BURST THE TANK? 
WE NEED THE WATER FOR 
DRINKING, COOKING AND 
WASHING!

THE TENTS ARE POORLY SITED: THE ARRANGEMENTS ARE TOO CHAOTIC AND IMPRACTICAL IF THE CAMP IS TO BE HERE 
FOR A LONG TIME.

THESE TENTS ARE MUCH TOO CLOSE 
TOGETHER! YOU CAN HARDLY WALK 
BETWEEN THEM!  IT MAY BE A 
MINOR DETAIL BUT THEY COULD 
HAVE BEEN PITCHED IN A WAY 
THAT GIVES THE FAMILIES MORE 
PRIVACY!

TESJANG, IS IT OK IF WE 
DO SOME INTERVIEWS 
NOW?

HE COMPLAINS ABOUT UNFAIR FOOD 
DISTRIBUTION. HE IS ONLY ALLOWED ONE 
BAG. OTHER FAMILIES HAVE OLDER SONS 
THAT MANAGE TO GET EXTRA BAGS. SO 
THEY HAVE TWO OR THREE PER FAMILY!

...AND HE SAYS THAT 
HE ONLY RECEIVED ONE 
TENT. BUT HE HAS A LARGE 
FAMILY AND ONE IS NOT 
ENOUGH...

HE SLEEPS IN THIS SMALL 
PLASTIC SHELTER. HE  
SAYS HIS NEIGHBOURS 
HAVE RECEIVED A LARGER 
TENT FOR A SMALLER 
FAMILY!

12

IT IS CLEAR FROM INTERVIEWS THAT DISTRIBUTION OF 
SHELTER MATERIALS AND FOOD IS POORLY ORGANISED 
PUTTING THE MOST VULNERABLE AT A DISADVANTAGE. 

SOME PEOPLE RESORT TO MAKESHIFT SHELTERS, EVEN THOUGH THERE 
ARE ENOUGH TENTS AVAILABLE.

IN CONTRAST TO THE CAMP, THE FIELD HOSPITAL IS WELL ORGANISED. HOWEVER, ONLY A THIRD OF THE BEDS ARE OCCUPIED 
AND THE HOSPITAL IS NOT EQUIPPED TO TREAT THE MORE SERIOUS INJURIES.

OK, I’M FINISHED HERE. LET’S LOOK AT 
THE FIELD HOSPITAL NEXT.

THIS CHILD CANNOT HAVE PROPER 
SURGERY BECAUSE HER FRACTURES 
ARE TOO COMPLEX. EITHER SHE 
NEEDS TO BE TRANSFERRED TO A 
HOSPITAL OR WE NEED DOCTORS 
WHO SPECIALISE IN THIS KIND OF 
TRAUMA.

I’LL HIGHLIGHT THIS IN MY 
REPORT. IS THERE A CHANCE 
WE COULD INTERVIEW SOME 
PATIENTS?

AND THERE ARE MANY 
OTHERS LIKE HER!

HE SAYS HE IS NOT THE FATHER 
BUT A NEIGHBOUR. THEY ARE THE 
ONLY SURVIVORS FROM BOTH THEIR 
FAMILIES.

THEIR HOUSES WERE 
STRUCK BY A ROCKSLIDE. 
THEY WALKED FOR TWO 
DAYS TO GET HERE.

I'M SORRY, I...I NEED 
SOME FRESH AIR...

THE MAN SAYS THAT ... 
THAT HE HAS NOT HAD 
THE COURAGE TO TELL 
THE GIRL HER PARENTS 
ARE DEAD...

MAMA...

PERHAPS WE SHOULD STOP 
THE TOUR HERE. I HAVE 
ENOUGH INFORMATION FOR 
A FIRST REPORT.

13

HELLO ZANA !!

GLAD TO HEAR FROM YOU! 
HOW ARE YOU DOING?

I'M...OK...

ARE YOU SURE? YOU DON’T 
REALLY SOUND OK TO BE 
HONEST...

I’VE JUST BEEN TO THE 
FIELD HOSPITAL AND THE 
STORIES THAT I’VE HEARD ... 
WELL, IT’S TOUGH MAX...

REALLY TOUGH...

HEY, HEY. CHIN UP! YOU’VE DONE 
THIS BEFORE, HAVEN’T YOU? JUST 
PUT IT ALL DOWN IN ONE OF THOSE 
PUNCHY REPORTS OF YOURS.  THAT 
WILL HELP!

WELL, THAT’S WHY I’M CALLING 
ACTUALLY. I’VE ALREADY WRITTEN 
MY REPORT AND I WANTED TO 
BRIEF YOU.

YES...I UNDERSTAND... I’LL CONTACT 
SOME OF THE MEDICAL AGENCIES AND 
ASK THEM TO SEND MORE SPECIALISED 
TEAMS...

THE REST IS LESS CRITICAL. YOU’LL SEE IT 
ALL IN MY REPORT. TOMORROW I’M GOING 
TO VISIT THE KELLOW HILLS NORTH OF THE 
CITY. I HEAR THAT AID ISN’T REACHING THE 
PEOPLE THERE.

AND WHAT ABOUT YOUR PERMITS 
FOR THE URGI MOUNTAINS?...

SOMETIME SOON?!... IF 
THERE’S ANYTHING ... 
JUST CALL ME, OK? BYE 
FOR NOW.

14

day 6.

AS YOU CAN SEE ZANA, TRANSPORT 
IS A HUGE PROBLEM. THIS ROAD IS 
ONE OF THE FEW THAT LORRIES CAN 
STILL USE FOR FOOD DISTRIBUTION 
IN THE KELLOW HILLS...

AH! I THINK WE ARE 
ABOUT TO ARRIVE AT THE 
DISTRIBUTION POINT! ...

OH MY 
GOODNESS!...

15

THIS IS NOT GOOD. BUT THIS KIND OF PANIC IS 
UNDERSTANDABLE. PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA WHEN 
ANOTHER DISTRIBUTION MAY BE ORGANISED. WE NEED  
ACCURATE REGISTRATION TO ENSURE EVERYONE GETS 
A FAIR SHARE.

PLEASE LINE UP!! AND WRITE YOUR 
NAME ON THE LIST!! IT IS THE ONLY 
WAY WE CAN ORGANISE THIS!

WE CAN’T BEGIN AGAIN UNTIL 
EVERYONE COOPERATES!!

LINE UP IN YOUR VILLAGE 
GROUPS! ASSIGN ONE PERSON 
FROM EACH VILLAGE TO FILL IN 
THE LIST!

THANK YOU! WE WILL 
RESUME IN FIVE MINUTES!

FOLLOW ME ZANA! THERE’S A TOWN 
DOWN THIS HILL I WANT YOU TO 
SEE.

I SEE SOME OF THE 
HOUSES HAVE BEEN
RED-TAGGED...

THIS IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE 
LUCKIER NEIGHBOURHOODS. 
AT LEAST SOME AID HAS BEEN 
DELIVERED HERE.

16

YOU MEAN THE RED POSTERS? IT’S A SIMPLE BUT 
EFFECTIVE WAY TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THE HOUSES 
ARE DANGEROUS. WHAT I FIND STRANGE IS THAT IT’S 
MAINLY RECENT BUILDINGS THAT ARE TAGGED. OLDER 
STRUCTURES SEEM TO HAVE BEEN SPARED BY THE 
EARTHQUAKE.

THAT’S WELL SPOTTED. 
THE OLDER BUILDINGS 
SEEM TO BE MORE SOLID. 
HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT 
SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS 
ARE OFTEN AMONG THE 
FIRST TO COLLAPSE?

TESJANG? LOOK!...

SHE SAYS SHE UNDERSTANDS IT’S 
DANGEROUS, BUT MANY PEOPLE HAVE 
STAYED. SHE HAS NOWHERE ELSE TO 
GO. SHE HAS NO FAMILY HERE.

OK. DOES SHE KNOW 
THERE ARE CAMPS 
DOWN IN THE CITY?

SHE SAYS NO.

17

WE'RE GETTING TO THE WORST 
PART NOW...

CAREFUL HERE...

I HAVEN’T SEEN THE 
ARMY OR ANY AID 
AGENCIES WORKING 
HERE...

THAT’S TRUE! 
DON’T FORGET TO 
MENTION THAT IN 
YOUR REPORT!

THAT’S A SMELL I COULD NEVER 
FORGET. THERE ARE BODIES 
SOMEWHERE UNDER THESE 
COLLAPSED HOUSES. I DON’T 
UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE CAN STILL 
BE LIVING HERE. THE AREA SHOULD 
HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY EVACUATED!

AND IT GETS WORSE. 
FOLLOW ME. THERE’S 
SOMETHING I WANT 
TO SHOW YOU...

THERE IT IS, ZANA! CAREFUL...DO NOT 
STEP TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE...

CAN YOU SMELL 
THAT, TESJANG?

18

CONCLUSION OF SECTORAL ASSESSMENT OF THE KELLOW HILL AREAS. MOST HOUSES ARE UNINHABITABLE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO EVACUATE THE PEOPLE TO 
RELIEF CAMPS. 

THE IMPACT OF THE EARTHQUAKE IS FAR WORSE IN THE HILLS THAN IN THE VALLEY.

LANDSLIDES SWEPT AWAY ENTIRE NEIGHBOURHOODS IN JUST A FEW SECONDS....

IT IS A SCENE OF UTTER DEVASTATION!

19

day 7.

HI, MY NAME IS ROBAJO.

ROBAJO WILL BE
YOUR INTERPRETER...

AND GUIDE! I LIVE IN THE URGI 
MOUNTAINS SO I KNOW THEM VERY WELL!

ROBAJO HAS A WORK PERMIT FOR 
THE CITY AS WELL, SO HE CAN PASS 
CHECKPOINTS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM.

SPEAKING OF PERMITS, HERE ARE YOUR 
CLEARANCES FOR THE URGI MOUNTAINS.

BE AWARE THAT IT MIGHT STILL BE DIFFICULT TO 
GET THROUGH CHECKPOINTS. THE SOLDIERS ARE 
NOT USED TO SEEING FOREIGNERS...

SO, IN THE WORST CASE, 
WE MIGHT BE BACK THIS 
AFTERNOON!...

OK ROBAJO,
ARE YOU READY?

LET'S GO
THEN!

POSSIBLY. BUT IF ALL GOES WELL, 
I’ll SEE YOU IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. 
OH, AND DON’T FORGET TO CALL US 
TWICE A DAY!

HAVE A SAFE
TRIP !!

I'M READY!

20

PASSPORT NOT GOOD.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN “PASSPORT NOT GOOD”!?? 
THIS IS A VALID PASSPORT! AND HERE, I HAVE 
CLEARANCES FROM YOUR GOVERNMENT!

PASSPORT NOT 
GOOD.

LOOK, I WORK IN HUMANITARIAN AID FOR THE EUROPEAN 
COMMISSION AND I’M HERE TO HELP. I’LL HAVE TO 
REPORT THIS TO THE MINISTRY OF...

THIS WON’T HELP 
ZANA.

MAYBE HE WANTS MONEY?

EXCUSE ME, ARE YOU FROM 
ECHO?

YES! AND I...

WAIT HERE 
PLEASE.

21

HI, I’M DAVE CLANCEY, PHOTOGRAPHER. ACTUALLY I 
LIKE TO CALL MYSELF A PHOTO-JOURNALIST... WELL, 
WELL... WHAT’S A EUROPEAN WOMAN DOING IN A PLACE 
LIKE THIS?

I’M ZANA. I WORK FOR ECHO, THE EUROPEAN 
COMMISSION’S HUMANITARIAN AID DEPARTMENT. 
THIS IS ROBAJO, MY GUIDE.

TO THE URGI MOUNTAINS? WATCH OUT 
FOR THE REBELS... THOUGH I DOUBT 
YOU’LL EVER GET THERE.

I WAS TRYING TO GO THERE TOO, 
FOR A STORY ON THE REBELS BUT... I 
GUESS I’LL JUST HAVE TO GO BACK TO 
THE CITY.

WE CAN’T JUST GIVE UP! WE 
HAVE A JOB TO DO... AND WE 
HAVE THE RIGHT PERMITS...

SO DO I!

CHEWING GUM?

22

BRUSSELS

WHY HASN'T SHE CALLED !?

SHE PROMISED SHE WOULD 
CHECK-IN WITH ME EVERY 
DAY!!

CALM DOWN,
MAX...

SHE’S EXPERIENCED ENOUGH TO 
KNOW WHAT SHE’S DOING. AND 
YOU DID SAY SHE WAS ON A TRIP 
TO THE URGI MOUNTAINS...

EXACTLY! ALL THE MORE 
REASON FOR HER TO CALL!

SHE’S PROBABLY IN SOME JAIL 
BY NOW, BEING QUESTIONED 
BY A NOT SO FRIENDLY POLICE 
OFFICER!

HAVE A SEAT PLEASE...

YOU HAVE SEVERAL PERMITS... 
EVEN FOR THE HIGH PLATEAU. 
WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS THERE?

AS YOU CAN SEE, I HAVE VALID 
PERMITS. THEY WERE ISSUED BY 
YOUR GOVERNMENT!

I’M A HUMANITARIAN AID 
EXPERT FROM THE EUROPEAN 
COMMISSION. I’VE BEEN SENT 
HERE TO ASSESS THE EFFECTS 
OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN THE 
URGI MOUNTAINS.

THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL. 
FOREIGNERS ARE NEVER 
ALLOWED IN THE MOUNTAINS!

I’M SORRY BUT I CANNOT LET YOU PASS.

I SEE...

23

WE’VE HAD REPORTS THAT PEOPLE IN THE 
MOUNTAINS ARE IN TROUBLE! VILLAGES MAY 
HAVE BEEN FLOODED BECAUSE OF LANDSLIDES! 
WE KNOW ABOUT THE REBELS BUT WE ARE 
NEUTRAL IN POLITICAL CONFLICTS!

YOU MUST NEVER BE RUDE 
TO A POLICE OFFICER. IT 
WILL DO NO GOOD.

LOOK, WE JUST WANT TO HELP 
PEOPLE IN NEED! DO I REALLY NEED 
A SPECIAL PERMIT FOR THAT?

I’M WASTING MY 
TIME HERE. OKAY - 
FINE. WE’LL RETURN 
TO THE CITY.

FOLLOW ME 
PLEASE.

YOU!
COME HERE!

HERE ARE YOUR PERMITS BACK. 
I CANNOT ALLOW A JOURNALIST 
TO PASS BUT... I THINK YOU 
NEED A DRIVER TO TAKE YOU 
TO THE MOUNTAINS. GO NOW!

GO? TO THE 
MOUNTAINS? WELL, 
THANK YOU! BUT 
WHY?...

I HAVE FAMILY THERE. IF IT IS TRUE ABOUT 
FLOODS, YOU MUST HELP. GO! NOW!

THANK YOU SO MUCH! ...COULD 
YOU PERHAPS ALSO...

LEAVE!!
NOW!!

24

CAN I SEE THE 
PICTURES ON 
YOUR CAMERA?

HERE, JUST PRESS
THE ARROW KEYS
TO BROWSE...

MY PARENTS AND MY 
SISTER ARE DEAD. 
I LIVE WITH MY 
GRANDFATHER.

SO, DO YOU HAVE A BIG 
FAMILY ROBAJO?

NO...
NO BIG FAMILY...

YOU LIVE WITH YOUR 
PARENTS? BROTHERS? 
SISTERS?

MY GRANDFATHER IS ENGLISH 
TEACHER! HE TAUGHT ME 
EVERYTHING! HE IS THE 
SMARTEST MAN IN THE 
MOUNTAINS!

AN ENGLISH TEACHER, 
REALLY? AND ARE 
YOU AS SMART AS HIM 
THEN?

LOOK ZANA...

OH !

25

THEY SAY THEY DO NOT 
TRUST THE REBELS TO 
HELP THEM.

THEY ARE GOING TO THE CITY IN 
SEARCH OF HELP. MANY OF THEM 
HAVE BEEN WALKING FOR DAYS. THE 
ROADS ARE VERY BAD.

DAVE! DO YOU MIND? WE 
HAVE MORE IMPORTANT 
THINGS TO DO!

26

MORE IMPORTANT? REALLY? 
HOW DO YOU THINK PEOPLE 
GET TO KNOW ABOUT 
DISASTERS AND THE HELP 
YOU PROVIDE, WITHOUT US 
JOURNALISTS?

FOLLOW ME! THE PATH LEVELS 
OUT SOON!

WHAT NOW?

I KNOW ANOTHER PATH... BUT IT’S FOR 
DONKEYS, NOT CARS!...

WELL, I'LL BE
THE DONKEY THEN!
LET'S GO!

ALMOST HOME! 
MY VILLAGE IS 
JUST AROUND THIS 
CORNER!

OH...

27

OH NO... IS THIS YOUR VILLAGE 
ROBAJO? WHERE HAVE ALL THE 
PEOPLE GONE?

MISS ZANA...
LOOK !

28

WE MOVED QUICKLY TO EVACUATE THE VILLAGE, EVEN 
BEFORE THE WATER BEGAN TO RISE. YOU SEE, THE 
PEOPLE CAN COUNT ON OUR LIBERATION MOVEMENT 
FOR THEIR PROTECTION AND WELL-BEING.

ON YOUR WAY UP HERE, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN SOME 
PEOPLE GOING DOWN TO THE CITY FOR HELP...

THERE IS OUR CAMP! AS YOU 
WILL SEE, EVERYONE IS HAPPY. 
FEEL FREE TO SPEAK TO ANYONE 
YOU LIKE.

29

THEY WERE WRONG. WE 
ARE PERFECTLY CAPABLE OF 
PROVIDING ALL THE HELP THEY 
NEED.

LOOK!...

WELL. I CAN SEE THAT YOU HAVE MADE 
A... REMARKABLE EFFORT TO HELP OUT.

BUT I WONDER ABOUT THE FOOD 
SITUATION. MOST OF THE CROPS AND 
STOCKS MUST HAVE BEEN LOST IN THE 
EARTHQUAKE AND FLOODS...

I... I ASSURE YOU 
THERE IS NO PROBLEM!

IF YOU EXCUSE 
ME NOW. I HAVE 
WORK TO DO.

SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

IT’S ALL DONE WITH THE 
BEST OF INTENTIONS, BUT IT 
WON’T LAST FOR LONG. LOOK 
AT THESE SHELTERS. THIN 
PLASTIC!

THIS PLACE IS A NIGHTMARE.

YOU CAN EASILY IMAGINE WHAT WILL 
HAPPEN IN WINTER. THEY’LL FREEZE 
TO DEATH... IF THEY EVEN MAKE IT 
UNTIL THEN!

BUT I SAW HIS FACE. IT ISN’T 
TRUE! WE MUST GET HELP IN 
FROM OUTSIDE! I HAVE TO TALK 
TO HIM AGAIN!

WHEN I ASKED THE REBEL LEADER 
ABOUT FOOD, HE SAID THERE WAS NO 
PROBLEM...

30

THEY SAID THREE OLD PEOPLE DIED 
ON THEIR WAY TO THE CAMP. ONE OF 
THEM WAS A TEACHER...

GABUSHA. BUT I CALL 
HIM BABA. IT MEANS 
GRANDAD.

YOU THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN 
YOUR GRANDFATHER... BUT THIS IS 
A BIG CAMP. YOU CAN’T BE SURE... 
WHAT’S HIS NAME?

WELL THEN, LET’S SEE IF WE 
CAN GET SOME INFORMATION 
ABOUT YOUR BABA!

31

I CAME ACROSS AN OLD MAN WITH A 
GROUP OF KIDS AT THE OTHER END 
OF THE CAMP!! MAYBE...

BABA !!!
BABA GABUSHA !!

BABA! I’M SO GLAD I 
FOUND YOU!!

TEACHING? NO, MY DEAR ROBAJO... 
UNTIL THESE CHILDREN HAVE THEIR 
HOMES BACK...

HO! QUIET ROBAJO! 
DON’T YOU SEE I’M BUSY?

YOU ARE BUSY! ARE YOU 
TEACHING? ENGLISH 
LESSONS?

I AM BABA 
GABUSHA THE 
STORY TELLER!

32

...WHAT I’M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT IF 
YOU ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL AID, WE CAN 
IMPROVE... HELP YOU TO IMPROVE THE 
LIVING CONDITIONS OF THESE PEOPLE EVEN 
MORE...

IN TRAGEDIES LIKE THIS, INTERNATIONAL 
SOLIDARITY IS NORMAL. BORDUVIA IS 
ALREADY ACCEPTING OUTSIDE HELP, 
DELIVERED IMPARTIALLY BY INDEPENDENT 
AGENCIES. IF YOU DO THE SAME, PEOPLE 
HERE WILL BENEFIT... WHICH SURELY IS A 
GOOD THING!

MAYBE. 
BUT IF WE ALLOW PEOPLE IN, THE BORDUVIANS 
WILL ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO OUR VILLAGES, AND 
I CAN NO LONGER CONTROL...GUARANTEE THE 
SAFETY OF OUR PEOPLE.

AND HOW WOULD THAT LOOK TO 
THE BORDUVIANS? IT WOULD 
APPEAR WE ARE NOT CAPABLE 
OF TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN 
PEOPLE.

I’M SORRY.
MY DECISION IS FINAL.

YOU MUST CONVINCE HIM, 
BECAUSE IF NOT...

I KNOW DAVE! IF NOT, CIVILIANS 
WILL SUFFER. IT’S THE SAME OLD 
STORY. I JUST WISH I COULD FIND 
AN ARGUMENT TO PERSUADE HIM!

33

AFTERSHOCK !!!

34

LISTEN. WE NEED TO FACE UP TO THE 
REALITY HERE. PEOPLE NEED IMMEDIATE 
AID AND WE’RE READY TO HELP - AS WE’RE 
ALREADY DOING IN KELLOW...!

HOW WOULD IT LOOK IF THESE 
PEOPLE GET LEFT OUT!? LOOK AT 
THEM! THEY’RE SCARED!

FINE. BUT WE WILL COLLECT THE 
AID AT THE MOUNTAIN PASS AND 
DISTRIBUTE IT OURSELVES.

NO! THAT’S THE JOB OF THE AID AGENCIES. THEY 
ARE POLITICALLY NEUTRAL AND WILL MAKE SURE THE 
NEEDIEST PEOPLE ARE HELPED.  THE SAME RULES 
APPLY TO EVERYONE!

YOU ARE A TOUGH NEGOTIATOR, MADAM. 
BUT SO BE IT. YOU WILL PROVIDE ME WITH 
A LIST OF ORGANISATIONS AND I WILL SEE 
TO IT THAT THEY CAN SAFELY GET HERE TO 
HELP MY PEOPLE.

IMPRESSIVE...

DAVE, HOW FAST CAN YOU GET 
YOUR STORY AND FOOTAGE 
OUT?

35

YES...

OF COURSE...

RIGHT AWAY!

SO, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE 
COMMISSIONER HAS ALREADY 
APPROVED THREE MILLION EUROS 
IN FAST-TRACK AID. SHE SEES NO 
PROBLEM IN HAVING A FOLLOW-UP 
FUNDING DECISION... PROVIDED THE 
NEEDS ARE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED.

WE’RE GETTING A LOT OF PROPOSALS FROM PARTNERS. LOOKING AT THE INITIAL 
ASSESSMENT FROM OUR FIELD EXPERTS, I THINK WE MAY NEED 
ANOTHER TEN MILLION EUROS...

SORRY I’M LATE. THERE’S BREAKING NEWS FROM BORDUVIA. THE REBELS ARE 
WILLING TO ACCEPT AID... AND THE BORDUVIANS SAY THEY WON’T STAND IN THE 
WAY!

WITH THE EARTHQUAKE, FLOODS 
AND AFTERSHOCKS, THIS CRISIS 
IS FAR BIGGER THAN ANYONE 
IMAGINED. I THINK WE NEED TO 
LOOK AGAIN AT THE BUDGET!

ARE YOU SAYING THE GOVERNMENT HAS 
GRANTED ACCESS TO THE REBEL AREAS?

YES! FULL ACCESS! AND THE REBELS ARE 
EVEN TALKING ABOUT A CEASEFIRE...!

WELL...IN THAT CASE...

MR. AMBASSADOR!
ANY COMMENTS?

36

NATURALLY, OUR GOVERNMENT 
WILL COOPERATE WITH THE 
INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES BRINGING 
RELIEF TO BORDUVIA AFTER THIS 
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY...

Three MONTHS later...

IT’S GOOD TO SEE HOW SO MANY PEOPLE 
FROM THE FLOODED VALLEYS WERE GIVEN 
SHELTER.

THEY SHARED WHAT 
LITTLE THEY HAD. BUT THE 
HUMANITARIAN AID WAS VITAL 
IN THOSE DARK DAYS AFTER 
THE QUAKE STRUCK. AND NOW, 
WITH THESE NEW PUMPS, 
THEY HAVE CLEAN WATER...

ZANA... YOU KNOW THAT MANY BORDUVIANS WERE 
KILLED AND INJURED IN THE DISASTER. IT WILL 
TAKE A LONG TIME FOR THE PAIN TO GO AWAY... 
BUT...

I DON’T KNOW HOW TO PUT THIS... PEOPLE LIKE 
YOU HAVE REALLY HELPED TO RESTORE HOPE...

WHAT ABOUT ALL THE WORK YOUR 
ORGANISATION PUT IN TOO. YOU WENT 
FOR DAYS WITHOUT SLEEP TO GET 
DRINKING WATER TO THE REMOTE 
VILLAGES...

YOU’RE MAKING ME BLUSH!

37

38

GO ON! ... GIVE IT 
TO HER!

THE CHILDREN IN MY GRANDFATHER’S CLASS HAVE A GIFT 
FOR YOU. THEY HAVE MADE ALL THE ITEMS IN THIS BOX 
THEMSELVES. IT IS A TOKEN OF THEIR APPRECIATION. 
THEY WANT YOU TO TAKE IT BACK AND SHOW IT TO ALL 
THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HELPED US.

Every year, events such as conflicts, droughts, earthquakes and floods trigger humanitarian crises 
in different parts of the world. Every year, millions of people find themselves without shelter, 

food, water or medical care.

Helping the world’s most vulnerable populations is a moral imperative for the 

international community. Wherever the crisis may occur and whatever the type of 

intervention required, human and physical resources need to be rapidly mobilised 

to meet the victims’ vital needs while preserving their dignity.

The causes of humanitarian crises are many and varied. They are often 

the tragic by-products of conflict or the result of extreme weather 

conditions. Sometimes national economic mismanagement makes the 

poor destitute and turns hunger into famine.

Whether their causes are natural or man-made, such crises 

invariably bring great human suffering.

The European Commission has a longstanding 

commitment to help the victims of such crises. Its 
humanitarian aid department (ECHO) provides 
relief assistance that goes directly to 

people in distress, irrespective of their 

nationality, religion, gender, ethnic 
origin OR POLITICAL AFFILIATION. 
Working with its partners in 
the field, ECHO acts swiftly to 
supply aid when disaster strikes 
and continues to help stricken 

regions even after the media 

spotlight and political interest has 

shifted elsewhere.

THE

END

39

At a glance

Humanitarian crises

Humanitarian crises include both natural disasters and conflicts. The major-
ity of crisis victims are civilians, with vulnerable communities in developing 
countries  likely  to  suffer  most.  Displaced  people  and  refugees,  who  have 
lost  their  homes  and  possessions,  are  particularly  at  risk.  Providing  aid  to 
those who are most in need is a concrete expression of the universal value 
of solidarity.

Humanitarian actors

National authorities are responsible in the first instance for helping their 
people in a crisis. Sometimes, the scale of a disaster can be overwhelm-
ing, however, and this is when international solidarity is vital. The Euro-
pean Union is the world’s largest humanitarian donor, with funds chan-
nelled through the Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) 
as well bilateral support from individual EU countries. ECHO works with 
around  200  implementing  partners:  specialised  United  Nations  agen-
cies; the Red Cross/Crescent movement and non-governmental organ-
isations (NGOs). The aid goes impartially  to  the  affected  populations, 
regardless of their race, ethnic group, religion, gender, age, nationality 
or political affiliation.

Humanitarian space

The  situation  in  crisis  zones  is  often  chaotic.  A  “humanitarian  space” 
is  essential  for  the  safe  and  secure  delivery  of  relief  assistance  but,  in 
many  places,  aid  operations  are  hindered  because  of  violence  and 
insecurity. It is increasingly difficult for humanitarian agencies to reach 
out to people in desperate need.
International Humanitarian Law (IHL) exists to protect non-combatants 
and ensure the delivery of life saving aid in war zones. Those who attack 
the humanitarian space are breaking the law.

Humanitarian principles

The European Union has a strong commitment to uphold and promote the humanitarian principles. The respect 
for them is essential for humanitarian actors to be able to work on the ground.

Neutrality
Humanitarian  aid  must 
not favour any side in an 
armed  conflict  or  other 
dispute.

Humanity
Human  suffering  must 
be  addressed  wherever 
it  is  found,  with  particu-
lar attention to the most 
vulnerable.  The  dignity 
of all victims must be re-
spected and protected.

Independence
The autonomy of human-
itarian  objectives  from 
political, economic, mil-
itary  or  other  objectives 
must  be  respected.  The 
sole  purpose  of  human-
itarian  aid  is  to  relieve 
and  prevent  the  suffer-
ing of victims of human-
itarian crises.

Impartiality
Humanitarian  aid  must 
be  provided  solely  on 
the basis of needs, with-
out  discrimination  be-
tween or within affected 
populations.

40

European Commission

Hidden Disaster

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union

2010 — 40 pp. — 21 x 29,7 cm

KR-31-09-144-EN-C
ISBN: 978-92-79-13380-0
doi: 10.2795/11166

How to obtain EU publications

Free publications:

•	
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via EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu);
at the European Commission’s Representations or the Delegations of the European Union. 
You can obtain their contact details by linking http://ec.europa.eu 
or by sending a fax to +352 2929-42758.

Publications for sale:

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Priced subscriptions (Official Journal of the EU, Legal cases of the Court of Justice as well 
as certain periodicals edited by the European Commission) can be ordered from one of our 
sales agents. 
You can obtain their contact details by linking http://bookshop.europa.eu, or by sending a 
fax to +352 2929-42758.

 
Hidden disaster

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