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When disaster strikes, Humanitarian and Civil Protection experts from the European Union are immediately deployed to assist the people most affected. Upon the request of a country, they offer emergency assistance and immediate needs assessments. By acting quickly and effectively, these experts help plan an effective and coordinated life-saving response.
The EU Civil Protection Mechanism (EUCPM) was established in 2001 to enhance cooperation among national civil protection authorities across Europe. Any country affected by a natural or man-made disaster in the world may request assistance from the Mechanism with a single appeal to the European Commission, saving precious time in the aftermath of a disaster.
In October 2016, category 4 hurricane Matthew hit Haiti’s southwest coast which resulted in at least 546 deaths. The hurricane left a shocking trail of destruction and caused an estimated €1.8 billion of damage in critical infrastructure. Hundreds of thousands lost their homes and livelihoods. In remote areas, people still struggle to access safe drinking water and basic shelters.
At Haiti’s request, the EU activated its Civil Protection Mechanism, dispatching 14 experts to facilitate the coordination and delivery of emergency assistance. These experts drop their day jobs momentarily and volunteer to be deployed for weeks at a time in an emergency.
Yvan Somers (Belgium), Tina Pettersson (Sweden) and Ghassan Taha (Sweden) were part of the team and recount their experiences below.
"As EUCPM team leader, my mission was to facilitate coordination between the local emergency management authority, and EU Member States’ agencies that provided relief," Yvan explains. This was his fifth deployment under the Mechanism, responding to a disaster in Haiti for the second time (after the devastating 2010 earthquake).
Back home in Belgium, Yvan is a nurse manager at Antwerp University Hospital Intensive Care Unit. He attends critical patients on a daily basis. ”Here in the field we have to do our best with sometimes basic equipment. It’s a challenge, but it’s also hugely satisfying,” he adds.
Yvan is also a seasoned member of the Belgian First Aid and Support Team (B-FAST), a rapid reaction unit of emergency aid teams. Although a veteran of several deployments abroad, this was his first time leading a EUCPM team. "By channelling every team members’ individual experience and knowledge towards a single goal, I had the challenge of getting the best out of everyone. I’m a lucky guy, we succeeded in bringing together an outstanding team," he says proudly.
"Seeing the EU teams’ immense logistical efforts to distribute in-kind donations from all over Europe - supplying more than 1 million liters of purified water to the most vulnerable affected population (as produced by the French Défense Civile), or two Dutch Navy ships delivering relief items by sea while roads were blocked – those were some of the most memorable moments," Yvan says.
Tina Petterson’s day job is with the Swedish Armed Forces’ Logistics. In Haiti, she led the team’s communications, which are crucial for coordination and efficient delivery of aid, handling strategic ICT and administration issues both in Port-au-Prince, the capital, and in the field.
"It’s a great feeling when all team members from different countries work together for a common goal, making an immediate, tangible difference for affected Haitians," she remembers. "Everyone understands that we are all here to help, and that dedication goes a long way in achieving a successful operation," she explains.
Ghassan Taha, who assists refugees at the Sweden's Public Employment Agency during the year, was the focal point for security and transport matters. He was responsible for dealing with a constantly-evolving security context. "Being able to assess information received, whether it’s credible and reliable, in real time, was my biggest challenge," he says.
"When I first arrived in Jérémie and saw the tremendous destruction with my own eyes, that was probably the moment I’ll never forget," he remembers.
For Tina, it was when the team "managed to reach the most affected areas thanks to the Dutch ship Pelikaan landing on shore literally into the arms of local people, in a small costal village named Bonbon," she explains.
"This job is the most rewarding one can imagine," she says. "Of course you witness unspeakable tragedy, misery, and experience personal frustration at not being able to do more, but amazing achievements and moments make it worthwhile - whether it’s a smile from a child playing in the debris, or a local driver telling us he is happy to be able to help his fellow Haitians," Tina recalls. "But the most challenging part is the feeling of leaving in the middle of something, knowing you won't see the end of the story first-hand," she adds.
Although the EU Civil Protection team is now back in Europe, humanitarian colleagues remain on the ground, delivering life-saving assistance to Haitians most in need of shelter and clean water.
