Georgia: Europe's humanitarian aid = 21 million euros

(First provisional assessment)

(B2) By compiling the various announcements from States – to be taken with caution because the counting methods differ – the European Union and its Member States have or will provide approximately 21 million euros in humanitarian aid to Georgia – Ossetia, which generally go to international humanitarian agencies… (compared to the 7 million euros of official American aid). On August 18, the United Nations and international agencies launched a call of funds for initial emergency aid, to the tune of $58,6 million (around 39 million euros) to help to 128.000 people, refugees or displaced.

European Commission
– 1 million euros (Sun August 10) + €5 million (Fri 22 August), managed by Echo, the European Humanitarian Aid Office, intended for United Nations agencies (PAM), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and European NGOs (around ten including: Première Urgence, Danish Refugee Council, etc. .). The second tranche should particularly be used for second emergency needs: mine clearance, emergency food or non-food aid to displaced or returned people, protection and psychological assistance to victims of the conflict.

Member States of the European Union (*)
– Belgium: 500.000 euros (13 August).
– Germany: 2 million euros = 1 million, half to the High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Red Cross; the other million for German NGOs working in the region (Tuesday 19 August)
– Austria: …
– Denmark: 400 euros
– Spain: 500 euros to the ICRC (Tue August 000)
– Estonia: 168 euros (in kind)
– Finland: 1 million euros (August 18)
– France: 1,4 million euros (22 August), excluding contributions from NGOs, (200 euros for the UNHCR and 000 euros for the ICRC, and the materials delivered as part of the european civil protection mechanism).
– Greece: 100 euros for the UNHCR (13 August) for WFP
– Hungary: …
– Ireland: 100 euros for the ICRC (13 August)
– Italy: 1,6 million euros including 200.000 euros for the ICRC + 460 in basic necessities transported by two planes (Thursday August 000)
– Lithuania: 185 euros (in kind)
– Netherlands: 500 euros for the ICRC (12 August)
– Poland: …
– Portugal: …
– United Kingdom: 2,5 million euros, for the ICRC (Fri August 15)
– Slovakia: 250 euros – 000 + 5,6 million crowns (August 2 and 13)
– Slovenia: 100 euros
– Sweden: 2,7 million euros
– Rep. Czech: the government promised 6,5 million euros but the decision was postponed later (August 20) – not counted.

For details of “emergency aid and civil security” equipment, see other article

(*) This assessment only takes into account government or similar aid (and not NGOs). It differs slightly from that drawn up by the European Commission, quite simply because certain States have not yet notified Echo of all their aid. Here is the Commission's balance sheet (August 27), there were: Sweden: €2.710.069; Germany: €1.681.125; Italy: €1.661.000 (incl. in kind aid worth €661.000); France: €1.240.488 (incl. €940.488 in kind); Denmark: €402.247; Lithuania: €186.667 (in kind); Estonia: €168.205 (in kind); Ireland: €100.000; Slovenia: €100.000; Greece: €80.000; United Kingdom: €63.415.

Other non-EU states
United States: $250 initially, gradually increased to $000 million = 10,7 million euros (the 22 August), distributed as follows: 5,85 M. Defense (including aircraft), 2,85 M. European Aid Department, 2 Mr. UsAid).
Norway: $1 million in humanitarian aid
Canada: $1 million, half of which for the ICRC
Russia: $22,1 million = approximately 15 million euros for Russian nationals.

Flights “humanitarian”

The United Nations humanitarian aid office (Ocha) had recorded 70 flights (situation report 20 August).
– 1st French plane (30 tonnes of freight), August 12 (return with evacuation nationals)
– 1st UNHCR flight (jerry cans, blankets and tents), August 12, 2nd flight, from Copenhagen, August 13;
– three flights of PAM, the World Food Program, on August 13, funded by Echo, and on August 15, funded by UsAid.
– first two US Army C-17 aircraft, on August 13 and 14, followed by other C-17s (coming from Ramstein, Germany) and Navy C-9s coming from Italy.
– Czech plane, Airbus A319, via Yerevan, left on Aug 13.
– Polish plane CASA-295 on Yerevan, the 14 August
- 1st aircraft of ICRC, coming from Amman (logistics base), on August 15, followed by 4
others (in all: 430 tonnes = 5 food parcels and non-food items, for around 000 people). etc

After planes, boats:
– PAM: a boat (loaded with flour) arrived at the port of Poti on August 19.
– American Army:USS McFaul departed Souda Bay, Crete, August 20, US Coast Guard Cutter Dallas next week, The USS Mount Whitney finishes loading in Italy, at Gaeta (21 August).

(1) Some take into account only cash aid, others include aid in kind, or even the cost of planes or personnel sent). The date mentioned is often that of the announcement... but not automatically that of the release.

(NGV)

Source info: EC, UsAid and Gvt, UN, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, CICR

Photo credit: ECHO/Daniela Cavini – Czech Ministry of Defense – Us Navy