DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 22 August 2024
EU mobilises assistance for wildfires in Madeira, Portugal
The European Commission is mobilising support for Portugal as it battles a wildfire near Ribeira Brava, Madeira. Following Portugal's activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism yesterday evening, the Commission's Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) has immediately coordinated the deployment of two rescEU firefighting Canadair planes which will arrive today from Spain to Madeira. These aircraft will assist local authorities in combating the fires, providing essential aerial support in the challenging conditions. The Copernicus emergency satellite system has also been activated to provide maps for the local authorities.
The Commission is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to dispatch additional resources if necessary. This mobilisation highlights the vital role of the Civil Protection Mechanism in ensuring a unified European response to natural disasters, underscoring the EU's commitment to solidarity with its Member States during crises.
In anticipation of this year's fire season, the EU has strengthened its rescEU and European Civil Protection Pool capabilities, now including 28 airplanes and 4 helicopters across 10 Member States. Additionally, over 560 firefighters from 12 countries have been prepositioned throughout Europe, ready to assist local fire brigades when needed.
(For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Daniel Puglisi - Tel.: +32 2 296 91 40)
EU allocates €122 million for humanitarian aid in the Greater Horn of Africa
The EU has released an additional €122 million for humanitarian assistance in the Greater Horn of Africa, as the region continues to face the impact of conflicts and climate-related disasters such as drought and floods. The funding will help address the most urgent needs of vulnerable populations, notably with food and nutrition assistance, but also with other services to meet basic needs, such as water and sanitation in locations at high risk of disease outbreaks.
In particular, the funding will be dedicated to partners working in Ethiopia (€42 million), Somalia (€40 million) and South Sudan (€40 million).
This additional funding brings the total EU aid to the Greater Horn of Africa to more than €421 million so far this year, including a reinforcement of over €56 million mobilised in April in response to the consequences of the crisis in Sudan.
Background
The Greater Horn of Africa continues to face complex and widespread humanitarian crises, mainly driven by conflicts and natural shocks made worse by climate change. Over 70 million people are in immediate need of humanitarian assistance.
In Ethiopia, the humanitarian situation remains dire. It is estimated that there are more than 10 million people who are critically food insecure during the current lean season (that lasts between July and September). Over 4.5 million people are internally displaced across the country. At the same time, the country hosts more than one million refugees, including recent arrivals from Sudan. In parallel, and sometimes in the same locations as other crises, there are outbreaks of infectious diseases such as malaria, cholera and measles.
Somalia remains one of the major humanitarian crises in the world, with close to 7 million people in need of life-saving assistance. While still recovering from a historic drought, the country was severely hit by above-average rainfall and flooding during the 2023 and 2024 rainy seasons, forcing thousands of people into displacement and triggering cholera outbreaks in new locations. A projected La Niña effect and dry spells later in the year will likely have worrying consequences for the already serious food insecurity situation in the country.
Finally, South Sudan is experiencing a sharp economic crisis this year, while the conflict in neighbouring Sudan is also increasing displacement and the vulnerability of the population. At least 80,000 people are expected to be in famine-like conditions this summer. The prospect of new floods as of September is worrying, especially for areas that have not yet recovered from the previous four consecutive years of floods.
For More Information
EU humanitarian aid in Ethiopia
EU humanitarian aid in Somalia
EU humanitarian aid in South Sudan
Quote(s)
As humanitarian needs continue to grow in the Horn of Africa, so are we increasing our humanitarian aid to this region, one of the most vulnerable in the world. This additional funding of €122 million will support the scale-up of life-saving assistance to people in Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan. The EU's aid will help address the worrying levels of food insecurity, contribute towards meeting the different multi-sectoral needs of the affected communities, contain the spread of infectious diseases and support displaced people, newly-arrived refugees and their host communities, including those fleeing the ongoing conflict in Sudan
Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis Management
Statement by Vice-President Jourová and Commissioners Reynders and Dalli on the Europe-Wide Day of Remembrance for the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes
To commemorate the Europe-wide Day of Remembrance for the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes tomorrow, Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, and Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, issued the following statement:
“On 23 August 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, setting the stage for Nazi and Soviet violence and occupation across Europe and allowing the adversaries to carve out spheres of influence in Eastern Europe.
This day, 85 years later, we honour and pay tribute to those who fell victims to totalitarian regimes around the world, to the courageous men and women who risked and lost their lives to fight against oppressive powers, and to those who continue to stand against such regimes today. It is essential for us to preserve historical memory and remember the horrors of totalitarian crimes in order to come to terms with the past and ensure it does not repeat itself.
Democracy is an asset we can't take for granted. It needs to be constantly nurtured. In recent years we have witnessed it being targeted by forces who wish to unravel the fabric of our values. We have also seen at our borders a brutal war of aggression against Ukraine.
No one ever again should suffer under a totalitarian regime. In May this year, Europeans elected their new representatives to the European Parliament, giving them a clear mandate to continue to protect the fundamental values upon which the European Union was built.
Only empowered by unity and respect towards each other, our history and views for the future we can continue to uphold democracy, rule of law, peace, and freedom that lie at the core of this Union.''
In 2009 the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for the 'proclamation of 23 August as a Europe-wide Day of Remembrance for the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, to be commemorated with dignity and impartiality'. Since then, the Day of Remembrance for the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes has been celebrated every day across the EU, keeping alive the memory of the victims.
The European Commission supports projects across Europe that address the history of totalitarian crimes and encourage remembrance. Building on the Europe for citizens programme 2014-2020, the new Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme supports initiatives that promote remembrance of the causes and consequences of totalitarian regimes, in particular of Nazism, but also fascism, Stalinism and other totalitarian communist regimes.
During the weeks of summer, the Midday Briefing is held on a biweekly basis – on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Spokesperson´s Service remains available to reply to your questions every day.
The SPP uses a hybrid system for its press events. Accreditation is required. More information here.
The European Commission is committed to personal data protection. Any personal data is processed in line with Regulation (EC) 2018/1725. All personal information processed by the Directorate-General for Communication / European Commission Representations is treated accordingly. If you do not work for a media organisation, you are welcome to contact the EU through Europe Direct in writing or by calling 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11.