Co-ordination in a crisis
In the aftermath of 
the Haiti earthquake, 
Nigel Allen examines 
disaster management 
response capabilities 
within the EU
O
n 12 January, the country of Haiti was struck by
a catastrophic earthquake. The disaster affected
over 3 million people in the surrounding area
and as of 24 January has resulted in a death toll of some
150,000, with reports suggesting that the fi nal fi gure
could exceed 200,000.
Within hours of the catastrophe, countries all over
the world were offering aid, resources and expertise
to the stricken country as is sought to tackle the utter
devastation it faced. Disaster teams were mobilised,
including medical staff and those trained in extracting
people from collapsed buildings; planes and ships were
loaded up with medical and food supplies; charitable
organisations launched campaigns to raise money; for bolstering the resilience of EU member states and, as a result, the resilience
and millions of dollars were offered by numerous of the EU as a whole. Commissioner Dimas highlighted the human tragedy and
governments to help with the aid effort. the fi nancial impact of both man-made and natural disasters and said that there
Yet concerns have been raised about the effectiveness is “an urgent need for Europe to develop its civil protection capacities to deal
of the relief effort. Days after the event, despite aid with increasing levels of risk.”
having arrived in the country, many reports highlighted He called upon member states to develop their own national capacities,
the fact that this aid was not reaching the people but added that “when complemented by action at an EU level” such efforts
affected by the earthquake. Question marks were raised can be much more effective. His call to arms was supported by the results of a
over how well co-ordinated the response was, how recent EU survey which found that some 90% of those surveyed believed the
well prioritised activities were and how effective the European Union should do more to support the disaster management efforts of
logistical capabilities were. its member states.
It is diffi cult to comment with any form of certainty His comments were echoed by those of Hakan Jewrell, State Secretary in
on such reports given the fact that the disaster is so Sweden’s Ministry of Defence, who extended the role of the EU in disaster
recent. However, what this situation does raise is the management onto the international stage, stating that while a more resilient
importance of establishing a co-ordinated response EU is better able to protect its citizens, it is also “an EU that can be an even
involving all contributing parties in the aftermath of a stronger partner in international disaster management.”
major disaster. In the heat of the relief effort, it is all Providing an international perspective on the European Union’s role in
too easy for the best laid plans to be pulled apart as the global resilience, Margareta Wahlström, Assistant Secretary-General at the UN’s
various groups involved pull in different directions. International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, highlighted the fact that the EU
This article focuses on the disaster management had taken huge steps in recent years in terms of its civil protection capabilities,
frameworks which are in place across the EU, considers and was now at a stage where it is ready to take the next step in becoming “an
their overall effectiveness and explores some of the instrument for building more resilient societies.” However, perhaps, before
plans which are in the offi ng to help strengthen disaster dissecting Europe’s plans for bolstering its disaster management fortifi cations,
co-ordination between member states, across the EU we should fi rst review the structures which are currently in place to assist
e
and further onto the international fi eld. both member states and the international community in the face of increasing
catastrophic events.
A vision for resilience
Speaking at the European Union’s Third Civil Protection Disaster defences
Forum in November, Stavros Dimas, European The existing disaster management framework provided by the Community
Commissioner for the Environment laid out his strategy Mechanism for Civil Protection traces its origins back to October 2001, when
©istockphoto.com/lorrainedark
20  Continuity  January/February 2010
Cont Jan/Feb 2010_insides.indd 20 3/2/10 14:50:58
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