Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96Show full title

CHAPTER I U.K. Objectives and general principles of humanitarian aid

Article 1 U.K.

The Community's humanitarian aid shall comprise assistance, relief and protection operations on a non-discriminatory basis to help people in third countries, particularly the most vulnerable among them, and as a priority those in developing countries, victims of natural disasters, man-made crises, such as wars and outbreaks of fighting, or exceptional situations or circumstances comparable to natural or man-made disasters. It shall do so for the time needed to meet the humanitarian requirements resulting from these different situations.

Such aid shall also comprise operations to prepare for risks or prevent disasters or comparable exceptional circumstances.

Article 2 U.K.

The principal objectives of the humanitarian aid operations referred to in Article 1 shall be:

(a)

to save and preserve life during emergencies and their immediate aftermath and natural disasters that have entailed major loss of life, physical, psychological or social suffering or material damage;

(b)

to provide the necessary assistance and relief to people affected by longer-lasting crises arising, in particular, from outbreaks of fighting or wars, producing the same effects as those described in subparagraph (a), especially where their own governments prove unable to help or there is a vacuum of power;

(c)

to help finance the transport of aid and efforts to ensure that it is accessible to those for whom it is intended, by all logistical means available, and by protecting humanitarian goods and personnel, but excluding operations with defence implications;

(d)

to carry out short-term rehabilitation and reconstruction work, especially on infrastructure and equipment, in close association with local structures, with a view to facilitating the arrival of relief, preventing the impact of the crisis from worsening and starting to help those affected regain a minimum level of self-sufficiency, taking long-term development objectives into account where possible;

(e)

to cope with the consequences of population movements (refugees, displaced people and returnees) caused by natural and man-made disasters and carry out schemes to assist repatriation to the country of origin and resettlement there when the conditions laid down in current international agreements are in place;

(f)

to ensure preparedness for risks of natural disasters or comparable exceptional circumstances and use a suitable rapid early-warning and intervention system;

(g)

to support civil operations to protect the victims of fighting or comparable emergencies, in accordance with current international agreements.

Article 3 U.K.

Community aid referred to in Articles 1, 2 and 4 may be used to finance the purchase and delivery of any product or equipment needed for the implementation of humanitarian operations, including the construction of housing or shelter for the victims, the costs associated with the outside staff, expatriate or local, employed for those operations, the storage, international or national transport, logistics and distribution of relief and any other action aimed at facilitating or obtaining freedom of access for aid recipients.

It may also be used to finance any other expenditure directly related to the implementation of humanitarian operations.

Article 4 U.K.

Such Community aid referred to in Articles 1 and 2 may also be used to finance:

• preparatory and feasibility studies for humanitarian operations and the assessment of humanitarian projects and plans,

• operations to monitor humanitarian projects and plans,

• small-scale training schemes and general studies in the field of humanitarian operations, to be phased out gradually where funding is over several years,

• the cost of highlighting the Community nature of the aid,

• public awareness and information campaigns aimed at increasing understanding of humanitarian issues, especially in Europe and in third countries where the Community is funding major humanitarian operations,

• measures to strengthen the Community's coordination with the Member States, other donor countries, international humanitarian organizations and institutions, non-governmental organizations and organizations representing them,

• the technical assistance necessary for the implementation of humanitarian projets, including the exchange of technical know-how and experience by European humanitarian organizations and agencies or between such bodies and those of third countries,

• humanitarian mine-clearance operations, including campaigns to increase awareness of anti-personnel mines on the part of the local population.

Article 5 U.K.

Community financing under this Regulation shall take the form of grants.

The operations covered by this Regulation shall be exempt from taxes, charges, duties and customs duties.