AN ANALYSIS OF THE POLICY ON HUMANITARIAN AID AND CIVIL PROTECTION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
By Vaishnavi Shukla
| Abstract The European Union and its Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, commonly known as ECHO in the international community, is one of the largest and most important donors of humanitarian aid in natural and man-made crisis throughout the world. Approximately 120 million people receive humanitarian help from the EU every year. The dedication of the Union towards humanitarian action is apparent in its base principles of Humanity, Neutrality, Impartiality and Independence, and its close partnership with various bodies of the United Nations and other international institutions. More than 200 local and international partners and agencies help in channeling the humanitarian aid. Relief is provided in the form of food, shelter, equipment, specially-equipped teams, and assessment and coordination through experts sent to the field. Civil protection is also provided to countries, especially those prone to armed conflicts. This article attempts to shed light on the various mechanisms established by the European Union to provide aid during crisis and disasters. This is followed by a critical analysis of the humanitarian policy of the EU, and suggestions and recommendations to further strengthen it and ensure maximum help to the maximum number of people in need, all across the world. |
| Keywords ECHO, humanitarian aid, civil protection, vulnerable, neutrality, crisis. |
| Type | Research Paper |
| Information | Lex Humanitariae: Journal for a Change, Volume II issue IV, Pages 607-614 |
| ISSN | 2582-5216 |
| Creative Commons | This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. |
| Copyright | © 2021- Lex Humanitariae: Journal for a Change |