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Humanitarian aid
Virtually every week, images of natural or man-made disasters fill our
television screens and newspaper front-pages. The European Union is at
the centre of a network whose role is to alleviate the human suffering
caused by these disasters. EU humanitarian aid is unconditional; the aim
is to get help to victims as quickly as possible irrespective of race,
religion or the political convictions of their government.
The EU is active in all trouble spots including Iraq, Afghanistan, the
Palestinian Territories, and several parts of Africa. Its relief work is
global, often taking place in “forgotten” crisis areas ignored by the
cameras of the world media. These have included the northern Caucasus
(especially Chechnya), Tajikistan in central Asia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and
Central America.
The Union also draws on its experience to help people prepare for
possible disasters in high-risk countries and regions prone to
earthquakes, hurricanes, floods or drought.
The EU channels its relief funding through its Humanitarian Aid Office
(ECHO). Since it was set up in 1992, ECHO has confronted serious crises
in more than 100 countries around the world, getting essential equipment
and emergency supplies to the victims as quickly as possible. From its
budget of more than €500 million a year, ECHO also funds medical teams,
mine-clearance experts, transport and logistical support.
ECHO does not have the resources to do all this work itself. It
therefore works closely with humanitarian partners – non-governmental
organisations, UN specialised agencies and the Red Cross/Red Crescent
movement – to deliver food and equipment, provide rescue teams, set up
emergency field hospitals and install temporary communications systems.
Acting together in the world
Humanitarian aid is just one area where the EU works closely with
international organisations such as the UN, the WTO, Nato, the
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council
of Europe and regional organisations in Africa, America, Asia and the
Pacific.
The European Union believes in seeking multilateral solutions to global
problems. It therefore attaches great importance to effective
multilateralism, with a strong United Nations at its heart. The UN, with
its universal mandate and legitimacy, is uniquely placed to respond to
our common challenges.
EU member states strongly endorse the millennium development goals
adopted by the United Nations in September 2000:
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to eradicate
extreme poverty and hunger
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to achieve
universal primary education
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to promote
gender equality and empower women
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to reduce
child mortality
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to improve
national healthcare
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to combat
HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
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to ensure
environmental sustainability
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to develop a
global partnership on development.
The EU as an
organisation seeks to support these goals by focusing on six priority
areas where it can use its special expertise. They are:
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trade
and development
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regional
cooperation
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poverty-reduction policies to support health and education
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transport infrastructure
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food
security and sustainable rural development
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institutional capacity-building, good governance and the rule of
law.
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