Humanitarian assistance in 2020

Humanitarian in the Czech Republic aid is governed by Act No. 151/2010 Coll. on international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance abroad. Humanitarian assistance abroad is the set of activities financed from the national budget in order to prevent loss of life and injury, to alleviate suffering and to restore basic living conditions after an emergency and to mitigate long-lasting consequences of emergencies and to prevent their occurrence and negative consequences.

Humanitarian aid includes both ad hoc response to natural or man-made disasters, and aid 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. Humanitarian aid provided abroad can be financed from this budget in particular: material, financial, advisory or combined.

According to Article 9 of Act No. 151/2010 Coll., on international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance abroad, the Ministry of the Interior provides humanitarian aid to EU member states and other states of the European Economic Area and decides on its scope and form.

In 2020, the sum of 220 million CZK was originally allocated to humanitarian assistance, during the year the budget increased by another 164 million CZK for assistance to Syria, Iraq and Africa.

During the year 2020, 85 humanitarian activities in 33 countries were supported in the total amount of 383,7 million CZK.

As in previous years, the biggest part of the humanitarian budget was allocated for the needs of forced displaced people (both internally and in the third countries) mainly as a result of conflicts, including support to host communities; substantial part of the budget was set aside for assistance with the covid-19 pandemic. Remaining funds were allocated to immediate relief and disaster recovery.

In 2020, the Czech Republic provided financial humanitarian assistance to following countries: Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ethiopia, Philippines, Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, Yemen, Sudan, Jordan, Cambodia, Lebanon, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Mali, Niger, Syria, Ukraine, Columbia,Zambia, Iraq, Peru, Georgia, Australia, Albania, China, Moldova, Italy, Spain, Palestinian Autonomous Territories, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Vietnam and Burkina Faso.

In 2020, the Czech Republic provided rescue humanitarian assistance to LebanonMaterial humanitarian assistance was provided to following countries: China, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, San Marino, Lebanon, France, Armenia, Ukraina, Monte Negro, Kosovo and Croatia.

The expert of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic was included in the European Union Civil Protection team, which was deployed in Beirut.

The allocated budget for humanitarian aid abroad was originally suggested for 220 million CZK for the year 2021, but the Parliament of the Czech Republic decided about reducing the budget to 120 million CZK.

 

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnian government requested the Czech Republic for assistance in dealing with another migration waves of refugees. The Czech Republic provided to BaH following assistance: 2 000 pieces of sleeping bags, 2 000 pieces of blankets, 500 pieces of dishes sets and 2 000 pieces of raincoats. The total amount of the assistance was 2,31 million CZK.

The meeting of all eleven members of the Fire and Rescue Service of the Czech Republic, which formed the Unit of MoI – FRS CR, took place on 10th January 2020 in the area of the the Warehousing and Repair Facility of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic Storage in Zbiroh. The humanitarian material was loaded here into firefighters trucks, went through customs clearance and was ready for transport. The convoy continued its journey on Monday, 13rd January 2020, early in the morning via Slovakia, Hungary and Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina. On Tuesday, the material was handed over in Sarajevo to the representatives of the local Red Cross, with the participation of the Czech Embassy in Sarajevo and the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The convoy's return journey back to the Czech Republic was without major complications (compared with the journey to BaH: Czech firefihters stayed at the Bosnian border crossing for more than 4 hours while processing customs documents) and the firefighters arrived in Brno on Wednesday at night. The provided assistance to BaH was financed from the Ministry of Interior - migration program.

China
Since the autumn of 2019, a virus called 2019-nCoV (former name for SARS-CoV-2), so-called Coronavirus has spread in China (with an epicenter in the Wuchan agglomeration).

The Union Civil Protection Mechanism was activated through the EU Emergency Response Coordination Center (ERCC), based on the request from the Chinese authorities for personal protective equipment, later supplemented with disinfectants.

The purchase of material was ensured among the commercial market by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, purchased material was: protective and disinfectant - medical gloves (150,000 pieces), surgical gowns (15,200 pieces), surgical masks (10,896 pieces), medical masks (6,091 pieces), powder and liquid disinfection (5 pcs). In total it was 4,5 tons of material on the 24 pallets.

The transport of the humanitarian material was realised by road from the Czech Republic on 14th February 2020 to the place embarkation in Vienna airport (and was ensured by the Czech firefighters), Following transport by air from Vienna to Wuchan was provided by the Austrian Red Cross aircraft. Austrian aircraft transported the humanitarian aid of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia and of course Austria from Vienna.

Greece – March and April 2020
At the beginning of March, the Greek government requested through the ERCC the activation of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and subsequently the assistance in managing the next wave of refugee migration.

The Czech Republic offered Greece material for the accommodation of a large number of people in refugee camps: inflatable beds (1 000 pieces), sleeping bags (1 000 pieces), woolen blankets (1 000 pieces), rubber boots (1 000 pieces), raincoats (1 000 pieces), towels (1 000 pieces), sludge pumps (10 pieces.), hot air units (10 pieces) and power generators (4 pieces) in the total value of 2,37 million CZK. This offer was fully accepted by the Greek Government.

Czech firefighters with five trucks and two accompanying/escort cars transported the material of humanitarian aid on 80 pallets

The Unit travelled from National Humanitarian Aid Base of the Fire and Rescue Service of the Czech Republic in Zbiroh on 6th March 2020. The Unit of MoI-FRS CR went via Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria to Greece – to the destination - Central Warehouse of Greek Firefighters in Mandra. On Monday, 9th March 2020, the material was handed over to representatives of the General Directorate of Civil Protection in Greece, also with the participation of representatives of the Czech Embassy in Athens.

On 12th March Czech firefighters arrived back to the Czech Republic, after solving a technical problem in the brake system of one of the trucks.

In April 2020, Greece repeatedly requested for help, the firefighters´ unit delivered additional humanitarian aid to Athens, in Greece. Czech Republic donated to Greeks material (hygienic needs: soaps, toilet paper, sleeping bags, electric kettles, winter blankets, sheets, bed linen, towels and shampoos, air mattresses) for refugees in refugee camps. On Friday, 24th April 2020, the firefighters´ convoy with assistance departured from the National Humanitarian Aid Base in Zbiroh and took the same route as in March to Athens, Greece. The assistance in total value of 4,3 million CZK was handed over 6 days later to the representaives of Greek´s civil protection authorities.

Both provided assistance were financed from the MoI's migration program.

San Marino
Czech firefighter´s unit transpored and handed over to the representatives of the Republic of San Marino a material gift from the Czech Republic as a support to the population in fight with overcoming the consequences of the covid-19 pandemic. The affected country requested material assistance at/on the bilateral level. The Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic provided personal protective equipment (70 000 pieces of protective masks, 10 000 FFP2 pieces of respirators, 100 pieces protective suits, 100 pieces of protective goggles and 10 000 pieces of protective gloves). The value of donation was total of 1,5 million CZK and the gift was delivered to San Marino on 30th April 2020.

Lebanon
The Czech Republic provided assistance in three forms to the city of Beirut in August 2020.

The deployment of the Czech MUSAR Team in Beirut, Lebanon, followed after an explosion of 2 750 tons of saltpeter in the local port. The disaster, which occurred on 4th August 2020, was caused by negligence and breaches of safety regulations.

Many countries offered assistance to the affected population, and the EU coordinated assistance through the ERCC. The official request for assistance from affected Lebanon included a request for 5 medium USAR teams and medical supplies.

On Wednesday , 5thAugust 2020, in the morning the Czech Republic offered a medium USAR team and the offer was accepted almost immediately. Less than 10 hours after the acceptance of the offer, the plane took off in the direction of Beirut, on board were 36 members of Czech MUSAR team with firefighters from Capital of Prague, 5 cynologists with dogs, structural engineer and doctor.

After landing at Beirut airport on 5thAugust 2020 in the evening, the deployment of the Czech team was delayed. The Czech USAR team communicated with local authorities and other international rescue teams during its deployment. The work in the area was divided, area for the Czech team was located about 300 meters from the epicenter of the explosion. Members of the USAR detachment worked in the sector at a total of eight locations. After evaluating the situation, no victims were founded in this sector and the sector was ready for the recovery phase. The work had to be interrupted several times for safety reasons - demonstrations took place in Beirut. In accordance with the INSARAG "Beyond the rubble" procedures, the Czech team offered its capacities for evaluating the statics of the affected objects. In cooperation with a representative of the local government, the team carried out an assessment of several facilities over two days. The team members regularly participated in meetings organized by the EU and United Nations (UN) evaluation teams. Cooperation with representatives of the Czech embassy in Beirut was significant. The team offered free capacities to EU embassies and cooperating NGOs.

The Czech MUSAR Team operated in Lebanon until 11thAugust 11 2020 and then was transported by aircraft of the Army of the Czech Republic back to the homeland. All members of the USAR were after landing transported to predetermined location to be in quarantine.

The Czech Republic also provided material humanitarian assistance to the affected population in Beirut. The aid was in the form of medical equipment, which was transported to Lebanon by the army´s aircraft on 11thAugust 2020, in the early morning hours.The shipping of material, its loading, transport and handover in Beirut was supervised by the liaison officer of the Fire and Rescue Service of the Czech Republic, Col. Ing. Iva Brejzová.

The representatives of the Lebanese army and the representatives of the Czech embassy in Beirut were present while taking over the material in Lebanese airport.

Part of the medical material was paid from the budget of the Ministry of the Interior (nearly 1,8 million CZK).The material was delivered through Czech hospitals and included, for example protective overalls, respirators, masks, gloves, bandages and needles.

Another part of the aid was provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - special hospital beds, sewing sets, fixators, splints and other medical supplies - in the total value of nearly 3,6 million CZK.

The Czech expert in the field of crisis management Col. Ing. Miroslav Lukeš from the Fire and Rescue Service of the Karlovy Vary Region worked in Beirut as an expert of the EU coordination and evaluation team (EUCP team). The EUCP team was composed of representatives of eight EU member states.Its task was to assist the local government in coordinating international assistance, analyzing other needs to ensure the emergency shelter for people in Beirut. The EUCP team analysed environmental impacts and post-explosion disposal procedures.The team had two liaison officers from the ERCC and a technical support team (TAST) from Finland. A total of 17 experts with experience in the activities of USAR teams, statics, doctors, chemists, IT experts, etc.

The EUCP team was gradually reduced from 12th August 2020 in continuity of security situation, the last members left Lebanon on 16th August 2020.

The main task of the EUCP team was to be involved in numerous meetings with representatives of ministries, with the management of the city of Beirut, with representatives of non-governmental organizations, with the UN and especially with members of the Lebanese army, which was responsible for the overall coordination of rescue work. EUCP team analysed the needs of means and forces for searching people in the rubbles, ensuring treatment of injuries caused by cutting broken glass from buildings and statical assessment of buildings in the first days after the explosion. The team members tried to coordinate the incoming humanitarian aid targeted it to the recipients from army's warehouses at the airport. The EUCP team members were in close cooperation with representatives of the Czech Embassy in Beirut and appreciated their contacts and local knowledge for solving their task.

During the second wave of the covid-19 pandemic, the ERCC received several requests for assistance in managing the fight against this already widespread disease.Below you will find a list of assistance provided during November and December 2020. After the Czech Republic itself requested for the assistance provided by EU states and other states in the form of material assistance, it also offered solidarity to others requesting states in the form of protective equipment.

France
Unit of firefighters left from base of Warehousing and Repair Facility of FRS CR in the morning hours on 19th November 2020 with a load of 1,000,000 pieces of protective gloves on one truck. The unit consisted of two members of the Fire and Rescue Service of the Czech Republic. They traveled several hours across Germany without complications and unloaded the cargo at the destination - Reims.Before handing over the gift to the representatives of the "Santé public France" (French public health authority), the material had to be cleared through customs.The unit returned safely to the Czech Republic before midnight on 20th November 2020.

Armenia
Czech Republic provided to Armenia material humanitarian assistance in form of 100 000 pieces protective masks and 43 000 pieces of protective gloves. Based on the Resolution of the Government of the Czech Republic of 20th November 2020 No. 1205, the material was transported to the affected country by an aircraft of Army of the Czech Republic on 24th November 2020. The flight from the Czech Republic (24th Air Transportation Base at Prague - Kbely) was originally planned for the morning hours 11.00 am, the flight was postponed due to bad weather condition (low visibility due to persistent fog). The liaison officer of the Fire and Rescue Service of the Czech Republic Jiří Kubeš (FRS of Capital of Prague) coordinated the transport and hand over of the material at Yerevan Airport (with the participation of the Czech Ambassador to Armenia). The beneficiary of the in-kind assistance was the "Republican Center of Humanitarian Assistance".

The plane landed in the Czech Republic on this day at night hours, at Václav Havel Prague Airport in Ruzyně.

Ukraine
The loading of material of humanitarian aid for Ukraine took place the day before the day of departure in Zbiroh in the area of Warehousing and Repair Facility of FRS CR - National Humanitarian Aid Base.99 000 pieces of surgical masks, 5 000 pieces of protective suits, 10 000 pieces of shoe covers, 10 000 pieces of respirators and 1 000 pieces of protective goggles were provided from the Ministry of the Interior.This in-kind assistance was provided to Ukraine on the basis of the Resolution of the Government of the Czech Republic of 10 December 2020 No. 1296.

The unit of MoI-DG FRS CR was composed of members of Rescue unit of the Fire and Rescue Service of the Czech Republic, this unit ensured transport and handover of in-kind assistance.The Czech firefighters left fire station Hlučín in the early morning hours on 17th December 2020, direction border-crossing with Poland. They continued the transit through territory of Poland and spent more hours on Ukrainian border.The unit arrived in Kiev on 18th December 2020, about an hour after midnight. The material of provided in-kind assistance was in the morning unloaded, cleared through customs and then handed over with the participation of representatives of the Czech Embassy in Kiev to representatives of the "Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine".

The firefighters arrived at the station in Hlučín on 19th December 2020 in the morning hours.

Kosovo and Montenegro
In accordance with the above-mentioned Resolution of the Government of the Czech Republic from 10th December 2020, No. 1296, material humanitarian aid was also provided for the countries Kosovo and Montenegro. The material was transported by the aircraft of the Army of the Czech Republic, the date of transport date was set on 15th December 2020. Kosovo and Montenegro are neighboring countries, due to this fact, it was decided to transport the humanitarian aid together, with landing at the airports first in Pristina and subsequently in Podgorica.

Liaison officer of the Fire and Rescue Service of the Czech Republic Petr Vodička accompanied handed over the humanitarian material in the form of 5 000 protective suits, 10 000 shoe covers, 30 000 respirators and 30 000 protective gloves for Montenegro and 30 000 protective gloves, 30 000 respirators, 5 000 protective suits and10 000 shoe covers for Kosovo. After loading material assistance, the aircraft CASA C-295 type took off on 15th December 2020 in the afternoon from Prague's Kbely Airport.The first stopover in Pristina in Kosovo was around 5pm, the relevant assistance was handed over to the designated local authorities with the participation of representatives of the Czech Embassy in Pristina. The crew with firefighters´ liaison officer continued to Montenegro.The plane landed in Podgorica two hours later, and after unloading and handing over the material aid, it continued in its return flight to the Czech Republic. The aircraft landed safely at 9.30 pm at the airport in Kbely.

Croatia
The last humanitarian aid provided by the Czech Republic at the end of year 2020 was the material donation to Croatia.On 28th December 2020, Croatia was hit by an earthquake of magnitude 5.1 in the area of Sisak in central Croatia.

A convoy lead by 10 Czech firefighters was sent to help the affected population, they transported material assistance safely and without delay. On 30th December 2020, the unit of MoI-DG FRS CR departured from Brno in the early morning hours, via Austria and Slovenia, direction Jastrebarsko in Croatia. The convoy, which consisted of a total of 2 trailers and 2 trucks, carried the following cargo: 600 pieces of folding beds with mattresses, 600 pieces of sleeping bags, 1 200 pieces of woolen blankets, 3 pieces of electric heaters and 2 lighting systems in total value less than 3 million CZK.

The firefighters´unit arrived to the final destination - the civil protection warehouse in the city of Jastrebarsko - in the morning of the following day. The in-kind assistance was unloaded and handed over, with the participation of representatives of the local Ministry of the Interior and representatives of the Czech Embassy in Zagreb.The donated material was immediately distributed to the population in the affected places.The unit arrived back in Hlučín in before midnight on December 31st 2020 with no complication on the way back.

Humanitarian aid received in the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has been facing a huge number of patients and hospitalized patients since September 2020 during the second wave of the covid-19 pandemic. Consequence of that and also concerning future unpredictable development of the situation the Ministry of Health requested the material assistance.

The Czech Republic activated the Mechanism of Union Civil Protection through a contact point – Operation and Information Centre of MoI – DG FRS CR.

The official request from the Czech Republic for in-kind assistance (shortage of medical devices) was put into the CECIS system (Common Emergency and Information System - Common Communication and Information System of the EU) on 18th October 2020.

The Czech Republic received immediately offers of assistance from the EU countries and other countries (through the EU or bilaterally) and also from NATO (warehouse in Italy) through the Euro-Atlantic Coordination Center for NATO.

A total of 499 pieces of ventilators and 12 500 pieces of respirators were provided to the Czech Republic from the EU (EU warehouse in Romania), Hungary, Austria, Netherlands, Germany, Israel, Korea, and also from NATO (warehouse in Italy).

Repatriation of Czech citizens back to the country during the first wave of the covid-19 pandemic
The Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized the collection of Czech citizens and drove them by buses from international airports (Vienna, Munich, Frankfurt am Main, Berlin, Bratislava, Budapest, Katowice, Austria (Tyrol)) back to the Czech Republic. A total of 56 repatriations were made and 1,323 people were transported.