Brussels, 11/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Union is prepared to move up a gear in providing humanitarian aid to deal with the growing threat of a major humanitarian disaster at its doorstep as a result of the brutal counter-offensive being launched by Colonel Gaddafi against rebel forces in Libya. The European Council, concerned at the scale of the humanitarian disaster in Libya and at its borders, a tragedy to which a flood of refugees is now being added, said in Brussels on Friday that the emergency evacuation of EU passport-holders and people of other nationalities wishing to leave Libya safety remained a priority.
The EU and its member states have already arranged €37 million-worth of humanitarian aid and are prepared to help Libyans and people crossing borders, working hand-in-hand with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), OCHA, the International Migration Organisation (IMO), the International Committee of the Red Cross/Red Crescent and charities, explained the European Council. Time is flying and there are already 17,000 migrants stuck along the border with Tunisia. The IMO has said that the evacuations might have to be halted to due to lack of cash.
The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, told reporters that he was concerned about the humanitarian crisis that is threatening the entire Mediterranean area now that nearly 250,000 people have fled Libya and that all resources had to be used to ensure people's safety.
The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, said the Commission was finalising the repatriation details for Europeans in coordination with the MIC (the EU's monitoring and information mechanism on the movement of people). He said that cooperation with humanitarian organisations would be stepped up and €37 million had already been provided (€30 million by the European Commission, most of which has been given to the UN High Commission for Refugees and the International Migration Organisation, and €7 million in aid in kind provided by the member states). He said that the Commission was taking a three-pronged approach, providing humanitarian aid, civil protection aid and the use of Frontex.
EU experts have not yet been able to enter Libya, apart from the needs assessment mission sent to Tripoli on 6 March 2011 by the EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton, and the need for emergency humanitarian aid is becoming ever more desperate within the country. The European Council is calling on all sides to allow humanitarian aid through to the victims wherever they are. The EU says it is prepared to support humanitarian aid workers and to this end will be stepping up coordination to ensure the coherent and efficient use of resources, including military capabilities in support of humanitarian aid, within the rules governing international financial aid.
In a joint letter to the European Council, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron call on the United Nations to assess and closely monitor the humanitarian situation in Libya and make proposals to ensure full access for humanitarian organisations and aid for displaced persons. The two say they are prepared to contribute to the United Nations' work and back the investigation announced by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and the message he sent to the Libyan regime that it will be held responsible for its actions. They add that if the situation were to deteriorate, then they would be prepared to take action and provide extra financial and material support, including military equipment, to help the displaced persons within Libya, in cooperation with international organisations and the countries in question.
Speaking after the meeting, the French president said the European Council had decided that the EU would ensure access for humanitarian agencies and operators to “humanitarian areas”' (the location of which has not yet been decided) to deal with displaced persons. He said that initially, there would certainly be such areas in Tunisia and Egypt, but the EU wanted such “humanitarian areas” to be set up soon in Libya itself and to be protected so that they can deal with the tens of thousands of displaced persons. He explained that clean water and sanitation and schools would be needed in these “areas” to help the displaced. The European Council conclusions document does not make any mention of this.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said that Italy was a pioneer in providing humanitarian aid to Tunisian and Egyptian refugees and urged other countries to follow Italy's example. He said that Italy had highlighted the need to provide humanitarian aid to 100,000 people on either side of the Libyan border who have fled the civil war in the country. We, the Italians, we were the first to help with evacuation by sea and airlift”, he said. He added that he had invited all the other heads of state to do the same as it was a good thing that Europe and other international agencies should manage such aid, although he added that these agencies need tents, medicine, etc.
Frederik Reinfeldt, Prime Minister of Sweden, pointed out that the main source of humanitarian aid is the United Nations and that Sweden is one of the main contributors (ranking sixth among UNHCR contributors). He also announced that his country planned to make a further SEK 15 million available (€5 million) and more, if necessary.
At the opening of the summit, European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek had said that, after ensuring protection for civilians, their second short term strategy priority was to provide assistance in the terrible humanitarian disaster. Welcoming efforts made by the member states and the European External Acton Service under extremely difficult circumstances, he had called for more action and better coordination by mobilising all instruments available to the EU: ECHO and civilian crisis management teams in common security and defence policy. Buzek went on to say that, what is needed, is a strong EU presence on the ground to provide water, food, medical care, sanitation, tents and camp management. More must be done, he stressed, as, as they well know, not only citizens are in danger but also the thousands of refugees who await assistance. (A.N./Aby/F.G./L.C./G.B./transl.jl)