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European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

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Field stories from before November 2021 can be found back in the ECHO archive site.

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Ingeborg Hasli, talking to co-workers outside a shelter camp

Female and on the front line: the women of civil protection

For last year’s International Women’s Day, we spoke with Ingeborg Hasli, a woman at the forefront of European Civil Protection operations. She exemplifies the ideas of perseverance, confidence determination in the face of real dangers and hardships.

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Article
Claire in the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre in Brussels, large screens displaying maps and news channels in the background.

Meet Claire: a firefighter turned EU civil protection officer

Studying tropical cyclones turned out to be too boring, she turned to firefighting instead. 30 years later, Claire Kowalewski is helping to make the EU’s wildfire response as fast and efficient as possible. On International Women’s Day, we asked her about the beginning of her professional journey.

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Article
Yuliia, in her daughter´s room, holding a  blockflute. In the background a bed and a desk.

Art, music and hope: a family’s journey to safety in Moldova

When Russia’s war on Ukraine started, the lives of Yuliia, a former kindergarten teacher, Kostiantyn, an engineer, and their two children were upended. This family from Kyiv faced a difficult decision: to stay or to seek refuge elsewhere.

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Field blog
Brigitte holding one of her children while seated in a swing chair on a porch.

Delivering life-saving nutrition and protection in Madagascar

In south-east Madagascar, a concerning situation is unfolding as malnutrition rates rise in rural communities. Years of neglect and multiple nature-induced disasters means local communities are now left particularly vulnerable.

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Photo story
Women walking, with goods on their heads, in a street.

5 things you need to know about Myanmar’s humanitarian crisis

In February 2021, Myanmar’s army overthrew the democratically elected government and seized power in a military coup. The country fell into deep social, political and economic turmoil as the army conducted brutal campaigns against perceived opponents.

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Field blog
A white dog sitting in the front, in the background of the living room Ihor and his mother.

Homecoming dreams: a story of resilience and rebuilding

Ihor lives in the village of Pervomaiske, roughly 400km south of Kyiv. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he found himself at the centre of intense fighting. In 2022 the frontline dissected his neighbourhood, with fighting in the streets.

Type
Field blog
Children study and play in a newly rehabilitated shelter that provides a sense of safety and comfort

Bringing normalcy to a war-torn Ukraine

“For a year, I felt homeless. I am so grateful to these people for repairing my roof and windows,” says Oksana, resident of the Obukhovychi village in Northern Ukraine.

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Photo story