Humanitarian assistance to abroad
Providing humanitarian assistance to abroad is an integral part of foreign policy of the Czech Republic. Humanitarian assistance has been provided either on bilateral level, or through international governmental and non-governmental organisations. The Czech Republic has been providing multilateral assistance through humanitarian organisations. Humanitarian assistance to abroad have been provided based on request of an affected country which requests through its representative bodies or through international organisations.
The Ministry of Interior, by the Law No. 239/2000, on the Integrated Rescue System and on modification of certain codes, in latter wording, fulfils tasks in the frame of the Czech Republic participation in international rescue emergency operations in foreign countries and in provision of humanitarian assistance to foreign countries, in co-operation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Basic forms of assistance:
• Rescue – taking part in international rescue operations or dispatching an independent rescue team
• Material – provision of material according to the needs of an affected country
• Financial – provision of finance to Czech/international organisations, or directly to relevant authorities of an affected country
• Advisory – dispatching of specialists and experts, or provision of information needed
• Combined – combines the four above-mentioned forms of assistance.
In the frame of the Fire Rescue Service of CR special USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) units have been established, which have been taking an active part in international rescue operations. The main aim of the USAR team is rescuing people from collapsed buildings and constructions, mainly after earthquake or explosions. Team members have been trained according to international standards and are prepared for immediate operation in case of major disaster both home and abroad. The USAR unit is always ready to be dispatched.
Combined with other special module units, the USAR unit can be modified for further rescue activities like chemical analysis and decontamination, floods, fires or medical.
Financial resources, allocated by the Government for the current year in state budget into a bound reserve for humanitarian assistance of the General Cash Administration, fund the State humanitarian assistance of the Czech Republic to foreign countries.For 2008 the amount of CZK 75 million (EUR 2,68 million) had been allocated. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes financial resources from this bound reserve, and regularly informs the Government on these spending.
Year 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Number of cases 18 17 18 33 29
Number of countries 16 15 11 26 23
Sum in million CZK 51.2 158 87.2 66.56 71.487
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