According to According to Article 7 (1b) of the Law No. 239/2000 on Integrated Rescue System and on modification of certain codes, in latter wording,the Ministry of Interior is involved in engagement of the Czech Republic into international rescue operations in emergencies abroad and in providing humanitarian assistance abroad, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Tasks of the Ministry of Interior are fulfilled through the MoI - General Directorate of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic (MoI-DG FRS CR)
Accorind to Article 7 (4a) of the Law No. 239/2000the Ministry of Interior decides in agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the humanitarian assistance, provided by the State to foreign countries and on engagement into international rescue operations. Details are given by implementary regulations. the Governmental Regulation No. 463/2000 on determination of rules for engaging in international rescue operations, on providing/receiving of humanitarian assistance, and on reimbursement of amounts incurred by other bodies (companies and/or entrepreneurs) for population protection, in wording of the Governmental Regulation No. 527/2002, giver binding provisions on engaging in international rescue operation.
State humanitarian assistance of the Czech Republic abroad is funded by financial resources, allocated in the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Another important act is the Law No. 133/1985 on Fire Protection, in latter wording,which empowers the Ministry of Interior to concentrate and to deploy fire forces and means for providing inter-state assistance regardless by whom they are disposed.
Legislation, which regulates the decision-making powers in matters of providing humanitarian assistance, is the Law 151/2010 Coll. on international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance to foreign countries and on the amendment of some laws.
The Czech Republic has been providing the following types of aid abroad for several years based on the above-mentioned regulations:
- Rescue
- Material
- Financial
- Advisory (Turkey, Philippines)
- Combined – combines the four above-mentioned forms of assistance
The Czech Republic has been providing humanitarian assistance either on bilateral level, or through international organisations. The National Operation and Information Centre of MoI-DG FRS CR serves as the contact point of the Czech Republic for EU ERCC, NATO-EADRCC, MAAE etc.
Humanitarian assistance abroad is provided based on request of an affected country which requests through representative bodies or through international organisations. The information/request is received in the National Operation and Information Centre of MoI-DG FRS CR, which in agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decides on providing of the assistance. Then, the National Operation and Information Centre of MoI-DG FRS CR actively cooperates with an international organisation/body in preparing, coordination and realisation of humanitarian assistance.
During implementation of humanitarian assistance, the MoI-DG FRS CR permanently cooperates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which provides e.g. communication with a representative body, information from the affected country, visas for members of a deployed team or for accompanying staff in case of material humanitarian assistance. Further, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides delivery of humanitarian assistance in a protocol.
Providing humanitarian assistance to abroad is also political decision of the Czech Republic, with respect to political situation abroad and in the affected country specifically.
TRANSBOUNDARY COOPERATION
The Czech Republic has concluded governmental bilateral agreements on assistance in emergencies with all its neighbouring countries (Austria, Germany, Poland, Slovakia) and with Hungary. Hereafter, the agreements specify e.g. joint training and education and mutual exchange of information.
RESCUE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO ABROAD
In the frame of rescue humanitarian assistance abroad special teams have been established. The teams are always composed for specific needs of the place of emergency (fire team, floods team, USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) team etc.). Members of the teams are mainly firefighters of Fire Rescue Service of CR, and other members from dog handlers units, Czech Police, etc.)
The FRS CR Teams for providing assistance among Czech regions and for involving the Czech Republic to international rescue operations are formed based on rules given bythe Direction of DG FRS CR and Deputy Minister’s No. 16 from 7 March 2016, in wording of the Direction No. 21/2016..
MATERIAL HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO ABROAD
Material humanitarian assistance to abroad is provided based on a specific request of an affected country, which is then considered by the Czech side, and finally humanitarian assistance is provided by the Czech Republic.
FINANCIAL HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO ABROAD
Providing of financial humanitarian assistance abroad is decided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This assistance is usually provided through international bodies, or directly to a bank account of an affected country.