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An impressive gesture by the Irish
February 20th, 2012
With Minister Costello and Nora Owen, Chair of the Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group
By any stretch of the imagination this is an impressive gesture by the Irish. I am delighted but not surprised. Read the full entry
Number of views: 545
Europe has been gripped by a severely cold snap and heavy snowfall for a few weeks now. Sadly hundreds of people died across our continent. Millions of others have been affected – losing electricity, being cut off with little heat or food, unable to go to school or even to reach a hospital. Country after country declared a state of emergency as whole regions were paralysed by the snow.
Many people still need help, so civil protection services are working around the clock, rescuing families trapped by avalanches, evacuatiing villages, delivering food with helocopters. My team at the Commission’s Monitoring and Information Centre has also been busy. Read the full entry
Number of views: 378
The European Parliament as the voice of the citizens – my experience from last week
February 5th, 2012
EP Audiovisual Service
I have been at the Plenary of the European Parliament a number of times, always a learning experience. Last week was no exception. And it is worth telling my readers about it, since the Parliament discussed a report of direct relevance for my work – a review of humanitarian funds management drafted by MEP Martin Ehrenhauser.
I drew three important conclusions from the report and the discussions in the plenary. First, it is remarkable that Europe remains so committed to being a force for good around the world, despite the crisis at home. It is time of austerity, and yet, the European citizens care about those in most dire need. Second, they expect from those of us in charge of delivering help around the world to do it in the most efficient and effective manner. It was clear that, as representatives of the European citizens, MEPs want to make sure our citizens’ money is well spent. Third, the conclusion of the report is that ECHO, the humanitarian service of the European Commission, is doing a good job.
This is a welcome recognition for our experts in Brussels and on the ground, in the 40+ conflict and disaster-stricken countries where we bring relief in often dangerous and difficult conditions. And a great way to start this year – in 2012 ECHO will mark it’s 20th anniversary.
Number of views: 1123
Chad’s silent children – the sad face of malnutrition
January 21st, 2012
In the city of Mao in Kanem province in Chad, there is a hospital we fund where the sound of silence on the children’s ward is chilling.
It’s strange to be with children who are so quiet. In the intensive care ward where they are treating babies for severe acute malnutrition there are fifteen mothers with their young children. In a few months time this number will soar but I am certain that the oppressive silence will remain the same. Read the full entry
Number of views: 1238
I met Rahi Harouna when she was making an important life decision – and getting moral support from what many may regard as a surprising source.
Rahi, a 38-year-old mother of five children, was at a health centre run by the aid agency Concern and funded by the European Commission in the village of Bambey, Niger. Read the full entry
Number of views: 1180
What do snow, Skype and civil protection have in common?
January 17th, 2012
Meeting with Minister Urmas Paet and Väino Reinart, Under-Secretary for Economy and Development
Number of views: 1352
Twelve years ago an earthquake struck Izmit in Turkey, killing 17,000 people. Europe rushed to help, providing relief and assistance. But it was the experts themselves who realised a very significant and humbling fact: the lack of communication between search and rescue teams meant that some buildings were searched more than once while others were missed altogether.
Out of that experience and a bottom-up spur to action from teams on the ground sprang the Civil Protection Mechanism to help coordinate the European response to major disasters. Read the full entry
Number of views: 1283
European Development Days 2011, Warsaw: With the crisis in the Horn of Africa expected to last until the middle of next year and another emergency looming in the Sahel we need short term responses and long term solutions to make sure that an inevitable cycle of drought does not lead to hunger and famine.
Since 2006 we have supported pilot projects for drought risk reduction in the Horn of Africa. We have funded interventions such as early livestock destocking, rehabilitation of water dams, and management of rangelands. We have also established early-response mechanisms for when the emergency strikes: mobile health clinics, food vouchers and water trucking.
But even the most successful pilot projects will fail in their attempts to increase the resilience of fragile communities if they are not integrated into sustainable drought management programmes that are managed by local institutions and are adequately supported by donor and national funding.
Climate change is a fact and droughts will become more frequent and more severe in regions like the Horn and the Sahel. But the consequences of climate change for our fragile world can be anticipated. We need to understand and accept this fragility and to invest in long term solutions to build up resilience and to stop drought and famine becoming a recurrent crisis. Which is why I am delighted that civil society initiatives, with the input of aid agencies, like the Charter to End Extreme Hunger are raising these issues. The Charter to End Extreme Hunger is a great project which I wholeheartedly support – not only its aims and objectives but also the organisations behind it.
Number of views: 2036
Video of my visit to Denmark’s Emergency Management Agency
December 13th, 2011
I just visited Denmark, where I again met with the brave men and women of DEMA – the Danish Emergency Management Agency. Watch the video to see more about their work and what we spoke about.
Number of views: 1233
Thoughts ahead of International Volunteer Day
December 4th, 2011
I have been preparing for International Volunteer Day on December 5 by meeting very special volunteers in Bavaria and Poland.
First let me tell you about Jacek Ryng, to whom I had the privilege of presenting an award in Warsaw. Read the full entry
Number of views: 1218
