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European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

Leaflets, books & postcards - Archive

2014

EU’s humanitarian aid and civil protection across the globe - From A to Z (2014)

For more than 20 years, the European Union has helped victims of conflicts and disasters in over 140 countries. With less than 1% of the EU budget amounting to just over €2 per EU citizen, the European Commission helps over 120 million people every year. Find out about some of the most recent actions in this brochure.

Download or order the brochure on EU Bookshop (languages available: de - el - en - es - fr - it - nl )

Humanitarian aid and civil protection - Helping victims of disasters and conflicts, and protecting those at risk (2014)

‘European humanitarian aid makes a true difference for thousands and thousands of people who know that Europe is a force which stands for those universal values that are so essential to make the world a better place to live in.’ This brochure is part of the series ‘The European Union explained’ that explains what the EU does in the fields where it has powers, why it does this and what it achieves.

Download the brochure on EU Bookshop (several languages available)

2013

Emergency Response Centre (2013)

The Emergency Response Centre (ERC) is the operational heart of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. It enables the European Union to respond to overwhelming natural and man-made disasters quickly and efficiently, both inside and outside Europe.

Download: de en fr

Prevention and preparedness (2013)

Helping people in need in Europe and wordlwide. Better protection for all. Better training and preparation. Better coordination. Better and faster response to disasters.

Download: de en fr

Humanitarian aid at a glance (2012)

This brochure offers a general presentation of the European Commission's humanitarian aid department: how the system works, its missions, its mandate and its principles.

Download: en (2013) - fr (2012)

Civil protection at a glance (2012)

This brochure offers a general presentation of the European Commission's civil protection department: how the system works, its missions, its mandate and its principles.

Download: en (2013) - bg - fr (2012)

European Commission Humanitarian Aid - From A to Z (2013)

In the past two decades, since its creation in 1992, ECHO has channelled approximately €14 billion to victims of conflict and disasters in more than 140 countries. Driven by needs and guided by principles, the aid serves as a lifeline to millions of disaster victims around the world.

Download: en (2013) - es fr it (2012)

2012

"The European Civil Protection Training Programme" (2012)

The training programme is an essential part of the Mechanism. It is crucial in preparing experts for international civil protection assistance interventions inside as well as outside Europe. It also provides an excellent platform for experience-sharing and networking between national experts from participating countries. The programme involves training courses, joint simulation exercises and an exchange programme, where experts can learn first-hand about similar responsibilities under different national systems.

Download: en

ECHOES of EU Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response (2012)

Helping the world’s most vulnerable people is a moral imperative. As a direct expression of European solidarity, the European Commission established its humanitarian aid department in 1992. We have been at the service of humanity ever since, standing up for those who would have otherwise remained helpless. Europeans care. It is our duty to act.

Interactive PDF [ 24Mb ]

Helping worldwide: EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection in 2011 (2012)

Helping the world's most vulnerable populations in crisis is a moral imperative for the international community and can make the difference between life and death. The European Union (EU), including its 27 Member States, is the world's leading humanitarian donor, providing about half of global funding for emergency relief to victims of man-made and natural disasters.

In 2011, there was an increase in the global level of humanitarian crises, disasters and vulnerability. The trend of rising needs outstripping available resources continues. The delivery of humanitarian aid and civil protection is therefore becoming increasingly complex and difficult. Due to the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, there are more sudden-onset humanitarian crises and, in particular, more major disasters, such as those which occurred in the Horn of Africa and in Japan.

Download: en

Order on EU Bookshop, e-book version also available.

Commissioner Georgieva speaks about achievements of EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection in 2011

2010

Hidden Disaster (2010)

When a disaster strikes, the EU provides relief assistance across the world aiming to save and preserve lives. This comic book is a wholly fictitious story written to illustrate how the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department responds to crises, from a human interest angle.

Download or order the publication on EU bookshop (PDF version in en - fr - de - nl - it, hard copy available in de - nl)

The Monitoring and Information Centre - A European crisis response centre (2010)

A brochure describing the role of the Monitoring and Information Centre in operating the Civil Protection Mechanism.

Download : en

Looking at humanitarian aid (2010)
Multilingual : FR | EN | ES

In a world where civilians are often used as hostages in conflicts, and where climatic events are multiplying and causing more and more damage, humanitarian aid which is neutral, impartial and based solely on need, takes on all its meaning.

Here are some images of areas of intervention by international agencies and NGO's which have been financed by European Commission humanitarian funding. Some crises are well known to all, but others rarely make the headlines. In these areas, it is therefore even more crucial that aid is provided in order to save lives and relieve suffering. The European Union does just that.

Download : en

Protecting the Humanitarian Space (2010)

Humanitarian workers have a noble mission but one which is more and more difficult and dangerous to carry out. Over the past decade, humanitarian operations have increasingly faced obstacles of all sorts and relief personnel have been the subject of deliberate targeting: relief operations have been blocked physically or hindered by legal and administrative impediments, aid workers have been harassed, expelled, and even attacked and killed.

Download: en

2009

From relief to development (2009)
Managing the transition to recovery after a crisis.

When hospital patients move from the emergency room to rehabilitation, they need help to stand on their own two feet again. With the right help, they can end up being better off than before. For communities struck by disaster, emergency relief operations deal with immediate needs, but should also find ways to bolster resilience to future shocks by providing longer-term development benefits. This approach is called Linking Relief, Rehabilitation and Development (LRRD).

Download: de en es fi fr it nl

ECHO Flight (2009)
Saving lives in extreme conditions

ECHO Flight is a vital partner for most of the humanitarian agencies operating in the Horn and Great Lakes regions of Africa. It transports personnel and relief supplies to dozens of remote locations that would otherwise be cut off from the outside world.

Download: en fr

Special Eurobarometer Civil Protection (2009)
Saving lives in extreme conditions

The first ever Eurobarometer survey on civil protection shows widespread support among EU citizens for EU action on disaster prevention, preparedness and response. Country-level summaries are available.

Download: en

2008

The European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid (2008)
The humanitarian challenge.

Joint Statement by the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission.

Download or order the booklet on EU bookshop (languages available: ar - de - en - es - fr - it - nl - pt)

Preparing for disaster saves lives (2008)
Disaster Risk Reduction

Every year, across the world, more than 300 million people are affected by natural disasters – earthquakes, floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions, drought, wildfires, tropical storms and epidemics. Lives are lost, livelihoods are destroyed and communities at risk become even more vulnerable. Developing countries often lack the resources needed to minimise the impact of natural disasters, leading to unnecessary suffering when the catastrophe occurs.

Download: en es fr

One day, I want to be... (2008)

In this brochure are some stories drawn from encounters between
victims of humanitarian crises and relief workers: staff from the European Commission Humanitarian Aid department and Non-Governmental Organisations working in partnership with the Commission in the field.

Download: en fr

Targeting hunger in disaster zones (2008)
Humanitarian Food Assistance

The European Commission funds food aid and other humanitarian support on the basis of need. In 2007, it funded food assistance for more than 18 million people in countries and regions in the grip of crisis.

Download:de en es fr it pl

What is solidarity? (2008)
Humanitarian aid brochure.

This 14-page booklet explains, in a straightforward way, why the EU provides humanitarian aid and how the system works. An educational tool aimed at raising awareness among young people...

Download: da de el en es fi fr it nl

Annual review (2008)

Download: en fr

Archives

  • 2007: Download: en fr
  • 2006 - Meeting vital needs: Download: en fr
  • 2005 - Hope after disaster: Download: en fr
  • 2004 - When disaster strikes: Download: en fr
  • 2003 - Protecting the humanitarian space: Download: en fr
  • 2002 - Responding to new needs: Download: en fr
  • 2001 - Sustaining hope in a changing world: Download: en fr
  • 2000 - Humanitarian crises, out of the spotlight: Download: en fr
  • 1999 - East Timor: looking for a peaceful future: Download: en fr
  • 1998 - Caught in the eye of the storm: Download: en fr
  • Older versions: 1997 - 1996 - 1995 - 1994 - 1993 - 1992