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Disaster risk management
Development-oriented emergency and transitional aid
Once a disaster has struck, rapid aid is needed. To alleviate immediate suffering, the Federal Republic of Germany delivers humanitarian aid through the Federal Foreign Office, which works closely with German non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international organisations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Because disasters, poverty and development are so closely interdependent, the transition from emergency aid to longer-term development cooperation measures should be as smooth as possible. Short-term food aid and the creation or restoration of minimum basic social services and infrastructure to ensure the immediate survival of victims are regarded as the starting point for a subsequent process of sustainable development.
This kind of "development-oriented emergency and transitional aid", as it is termed, is organised swiftly and flexibly by the German government. The BMZ generally launches these measures in response to an appeal issued by the United Nations.
Development-oriented emergency and transitional aid projects generally last between six months and three years. The concept of the "livelihood strategy" has proved effective as an approach to securing the livelihood of the affected population. In these strategies, aid measures are based on an analysis of the lifestyles and habits of the local population.
Food aid also makes a major contribution to alleviating suffering in the aftermath of a natural disaster or crisis. The BMZ's most important partner organisation in this field is the World Food Programme (WFP).
Within the scope of emergency and transitional aid projects, measures are already taken at this early stage to prevent any repetition of the disaster and to raise awareness of the risks of future disasters. Many partner countries are receiving support from Germany in the development of national and local disaster risk management strategies and of strategies to help them adjust to climate change. This takes the form of pilot projects and of integrating prevention into various longer-term sectoral development projects and programmes.
Frequently, natural disasters, armed hostilities and environmental degradation force people to leave their homes. Germany helps these people both within the scope of emergency and transitional aid and within the framework of its longer-term development cooperation. It works closely with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
All measures implemented by donor countries are coordinated as closely as possible to ensure that a needs-driven international aid programme is launched.
In 2008 the BMZ provided some 104.5 million euros for development-oriented emergency and transitional aid programmes. Of this sum, around 48.5 million euros was accounted for by food supplies and some 56 million euros by other emergency and transitional aid measures. Most of the aid, 61.6 per cent, went to Africa, while one third went to Asian countries.
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