Humanitarian aid and ECHO. Annual reports 2000 and 2001

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Marie-Arlette CARLOTTI (PES, France) on humanitarian aid 2000. (Please refer to the summary dated 03/12/02.) Parliament went on to state that humanitarian aid, which confirms the importance attached by the Union to the values of solidarity with all peoples, should not be subject to the political conditionality which prevails in other areas of development aid. It commended ECHO on its more rigorous approach to management of aid, as illustrated, in particular by: - the strengthening of its partners' ex ante and ex post audit procedures, - local monitoring in closer contact with EU delegations, - improved dialogue with UN specialised agencies to improve management. Parliament called on all donor states to adhere to the practices, acquired over many years of experience, of a gradual approach on the ground, based on a process of building up trust with local populations, also taking into account their eating habits. It deplored the disastrous effect of the US air force's 'bombardment' of Afghanistan with food aid parcels in the winter of 2001-2002. Humanitarian aid is politically neutral. All governments should therefore allow the delivery of humanitarian aid in all circumstances.�