10countries

192projects

€83.6million

19.9

18.3

16.8

11.6

7

3.5

2.9

1.9

0.9

0.4

Perú

Bolivia

Ecuador

Colombia

Paraguay

Venezuela

Argentina

Chile

Brazil

Uruguay

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2001 2002 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2016 2017

0.2

24 5

1

17

7 6

1215

20

2624

17 18

117

0.4 0.80.1

5

1.8 1.6

4 4.5

6.5

11.9 12 1213.5

4.15

South America is one of the world’s regions most exposed to disasters caused by natural events, such as earthquakes, tsunamis (3 out of the 7 largest earthquakes ever registered were in South America), volcanic eruptions (the continent has over 204 active volcanoes), floods, drought, forest fires, hailstorms and cold waves.

Disasters strike every year, affecting millions of people over vast, sometimes isolated regions. Climate change has also increased the frequency of disasters caused by extreme hydro-meteorological hazards.

In 2017, a localized coastal “El Niño” weather

phenomenon caused severe floods in northern Peru and Southern Ecuador. In 2018, the “Niña” phenomenon is expected to disrupt the Amazon Basin, which spans over 8 different countries.

These hazards strike societies affected by tremendous inequalities, which are highly urbanized (85% of South Americans live in cities) and therefore exposed to major damage and loss of life.

National governments have significantly increased their ability to provide a rapid response to emergencies, but they still need international support to enhance some of their capacities.

Supporting local and national governments in emergency situations with in-kind assistance for the affected population and technical expertise.

Increasing countries’ preparedness, thus reducing the need for external aid during emergencies.

Activating EU Civil Protection Mechanism to coordinate Civil Protection support and provide expert assistance.

South America’s Humanitarian Context

ECHO’s support to humanitarian work

Funding per year (1994-2018) and total number of projects

Funding per country (1994-2018)

Investment in DP (M€)

Number of projects

The European Commission through its Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) has allocated approximately €204.8 million from 1994 to 2018 to assist victims of disasters resulting from natural hazards in South America, of which €89.1 million to better prepare communities and institutions to face future hazards and to enhance resilience.

More than 37 million South Americans benefitted from ECHO-funded Disaster Preparedness or Emergency Response, since 1994.

European Commission Humanitarian Aid to South America 2017-2018 European Civil Protectionand Humanitarian Aid Operations

European Commission

EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUNDING

€8.21 million in ECHO funding to respond to emergencies caused by disasters, such as the effects of El Niño (drought in Colombia; floods in Paraguay and Peru), as well as the devastating earthquake in Ecuador in 2016. ECHO’s response also adresses small-scale events (severe localized floods and economic crisis impacts).

Aid funded by the European Commission is delivered in partnerships with international NGOs, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, and UN Agencies.

DISASTER RISK REDUCTION (DRR)

€9.18 million in ECHO funding for Disaster Risk Reduction / Disaster Preparedness / Resilience. ECHO supports 20 DRR projects in South America, all intended to increase preparedness and resilience from local to regional levels. DRR work after disasters allows ECHO to maximize the impact of funding and resources, as interest and willingness to reduce the effect of future disasters is very high in their aftermath.

CIVIL PROTECTION

ECHO has deployed the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism several times to South America, sending experts to Ecuador after the April 2016 earthquake, to address the Bolivia Drought (October 2016), the Chilean Forest Fires (February 2017) and the Peru floods (April 2017)

Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) aims to save and preserve life, prevent and alleviate human suffering and safeguard the integrity and dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises.

Based on the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, the EU provides needs-based humanitarian assistance with particular attention to the most vulnerable victims. Aid is channeled impartially to the affected populations, regardless of race, ethnic group, religion, gender, age, nationality or political affiliation.

The humanitarian strategy of ECHO in South America consists of emergency response, disaster risk reduction and resilience.

A key humanitarian donor – European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)

CONTACTEuropean CommissionDirectorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)Colombia OfficeAddress: Calle 113 # 7-21. Torre A. Office 712Tel.: +571 742 5956 email: echo.bogota@echofield.eu

€ 100 000 € 1 500 000 € 3 000 000

European humanitarian aid in South America

Upda

te: J

une

2018

Venezuela

Colombia

Ecuador

Perú

Bolivia

Brasil

Paraguay

Chile Argentina

Uruguay

ACF | FAO

CARITAS

LWF | PAHO | ACF | IFRC |CROIX ROUGE | UNISDR | FAO

PLAN INTERNATIONALAVSF | IFRC | UNISDR | CARE

WFP | COOPI | IFRC | UNISDR | FAO | CARE

COOPI | IFRC | UNISDRPLAN INTERNATIONAL

UNDP | CARE | UNICEF

AVSF | COOPI | IFRC | UNDP | UNISDR | UNFPA | CARE

IFRC | UNISDR

IFRC | UNISDR

IFRC | UNISDR

Our partners in South America: Action Contre la Faim (ACF) | Agronome et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (AVSF) | CARITAS | CARE | Lutheran World Federation (LWF) | Plan International | Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) | United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture (FAO) | The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) | Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) | United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) |The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | The World Food Programme (WFP) | The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) | The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) |The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) | Croix Rouge-DE (CR).

Photo credit: © A. Ruffini COOPI, © Spanish Red Cross, © EU/ECHO/V. Rodas, © EU/ECHO/R. Silva, © EU/ECHO/A. De Vicente

South America | European Humanitarian Aid for 2017-2018: €17.38 million European Civil Protectionand Humanitarian Aid Operations

European Commission