Humanitarian assistance is governed by Act No. 151/2010 Coll. on international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance abroad. Humanitarian assistance abroad is a summary of activities financed from the state budget, aiming to prevent loss of life and injury, alleviate suffering, restore basic living conditions after the occurrence of incidents, mitigate long lasting consequences of emergencies, and prevent their occurrence and negative effects.
Humanitarian aid includes both ad hoc response to natural or man-made disasters, and assistance in long-term (complex) humanitarian crises and disaster prevention.
State humanitarian aid to foreign countries is financed from funds allocated in the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Following forms of humanitarian assistance abroad can be financed from this budget:
a) providing the necessary material assistance in the form of a donation to the affected area after the emergency,
b) financial donations abroad,
c) financial contributions for public institutions and non-profit organizations abroad,
d) contributions to international organizations and integration groups,
e) grants to non-governmental non-profit organizations in the Czech Republic to provide humanitarian assistance to foreign countries outside the European Union and European Economic Area,
f) participation in international rescue operations and deploying experts with the necessary equipment in accordance with Act No. 239/2000 Coll. on Integrated Rescue system, as amended.
According to Article 9 of Act No. 151/2010 Coll., on international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance abroad, the Ministry of Interior provides humanitarian assistance to EU member states and other states of the European Economic Area and decides on its scope and form.
In 2015, the sum of 73 million CZK was allocated for humanitarian assistance to foreign countries, but in the end the total amount of humanitarian assistance reached 89.88 million CZK. The planned amount was increased by 7.3 million CZK for further assistance to Ukraine and 10 million CZK were released to further assistance to countries affected by Ebola virus. Additional 20 million CZK were released from government funding to provide rescue assistance to Nepal - Trauma Team of the Czech Republic.
During 2015, 43 humanitarian projects in 26 countries were supported. The largest share of the budget for humanitarian assistance was allocated in connection with conflicts and displacement in Syria and Iraq, including their regional impact.
The financial humanitarian assistance was provided to following countries: Syria + region, Iraq+ region, Ukraine, Lebanon, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Yemen, Niger, Palestine, Croatia, Hungary, Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia.
International rescue operations and providing material humanitarian assistance abroad
Rescue assistance
A devastating earthquake measuring 7.8 Richter scale struck Nepal on 25 April 2015. 32 out of 75 districts were affected in central and eastern parts of Nepal. The devastating earthquake struck approximately 4.2 million people, injured more than 21,000 people and the death toll reached more than 9,000 people.
On 27 April 2015, the government of the CR decided on deployment of Trauma Team of the Czech Republic to Nepal. Trauma Team of the Czech Republic is mobile, specialized, surgical unit, which is designed for deployment in international rescue operations at the scene of incident or in its immediate vicinity. It was established in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior-General Directorate of Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic and the University Hospital Brno.
Despite the departure complications caused by congestion at the receiving airport in Kathmandu, team departed on 29 April 2015 at 1 am from Prague. Trauma Team of the CR began its activities on 2 May 2015 at 3 pm. Team was deployed close to a local medical facility in Melamchi city, which was crowded with patients, and two doctors and fifteen health workers worked there. The operation was complicated by a number of aftershocks and another powerful earthquake hit the area of deployment of Trauma Team of the Czech Republic on 12 May 2015. This earthquake caused approximately another 200 dead and 1,500 wounded. After this major earthquake and on request of the Government of Nepal, the operation of the Trauma Team of the Czech Republic was extended until the end of May.
Important activities of Trauma Team CR were also outside the mobile unit in the Melamchi. Based on information on the anticipated number of disabled and injured people trapped in mountainous terrain, Trauma Team CR created a mobile team. This mobile team drove each day to the field - its activities were highly effective. The entire unit has operated in Melamchi until 25 May 2015. Trauma Team CR arrived in Prague on 29 May 2015.
Over the operation in Nepal a total of 1,416 patients has been examined. Trauma Team CR worked under difficult climatic conditions, high temperatures, muggy, humid and dusty conditions. Work in these conditions accounted for the entire team excessive physical stress. All members of the unit demonstrated great physical and mental resilience and flexibility in carrying out tasks of the humanitarian operation.
Humanitarian operation of Trauma Team CR met expectations and represented the CR perfectly.
Expert assistance
In addition to Trauma Team CR also Czech expert on dealing with large scale emergencies was sent to Nepal. Col. Ing. Miroslav Lukeš of FRS Karlovy Vary region, was nominated and subsequently accepted by the European Commission in the European Union Civil Protection Team. Col. Lukeš underwent special training organized by the European Commission and has participated in similar missions in the Philippines (Typhoon Haiyan) and Nigeria (flood prevention).
The main task of the team of experts was to obtain detailed information about the situation in the country, a reconnaissance in the affected areas, communication with local authorities, ministries and government about the needs of the country. Furthermore, support of the incoming assistance sent by the EU Member States (Mechanism) and its distribution. Support of the European teams operating in the country and support of the activities of representation EU (EU Delegation) - Assessment of structures of EU diplomatic services, evacuation of EU citizens by aircrafts delivering humanitarian assistance or rescue teams.
Team activities were carried out in cooperation with local governments and "authorities" of the United Nations (UNDAC, UN OCHA, the UN agencies etc.)
Material humanitarian assistance related to migration crisis
In 2015, the material assistance was provided to countries affected by a large influx of refugees and requested assistance through the EU Emergency Response Coordination Centre or EU Embassy in the affected country.
Material humanitarian assistance was provided twice to Hungary in the 2015. At the turn of June and July, Hungary was provided with tents for accommodation of the refugees. In October, these tents were retrofitted with heating.
Slovenia, Croatia
In October, a request for assistance with the refugee crisis was received from Slovenia and Croatia. At the end of October, a convoys carrying tents with accessories were deployed to Slovenia and Croatia.
Macedonia was provided twice with material humanitarian assistance. In October, Macedonia were provided with tents with accessories. And in November, a convoy of Fire Rescue Service was dispatched with additional material for the accommodation of the refugees from the warehouses of the Administration of State Material Reserves.