EU in Emergencies

Today the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (#HERA) convened the #CriticalMedicinesAlliance (CMA) working groups to tackle urgent medicine shortages in the #EU. Here’s why this meeting is crucial: ▶ Inclusive stakeholder engagement: the #CMA brings together policymakers, manufacturers, and other key players to collaboratively address supply chain challenges. ▶ Targeted action priorities: we focus on vulnerable medicines, ensuring impactful interventions where they are most needed. ▶ Transparent dialogue: our platform empowers decision-makers with essential insights to navigate the complex medicine supply landscape. ▶ Action Plan Highlights: - Secure EU and national funding for manufacturing. - Forge partnerships with third countries to enhance supply chains. - Establish market incentives and joint procurement strategies. 📅 Next steps: the Alliance will publish its first set of recommendations by February 2025. We're building a more resilient healthcare system to ensure access to essential medicines for all 🤝 #CriticalMedicinesAlliance #MedicationShortages

Today a pivotal gathering at the Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU featured European Commission Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (#HERA)’s Director General, Laurent Muschel, alongside key industry and policy stakeholders. This high-level panel discussion addressed a critical question for our times:   🔵 How can the #EU support national industry to address global crises and support a ‘Preparedness Union’?   Key insights emerged, highlighting the importance of collaborative innovation, regulatory support, and integrated health policies in preparing for vector-borne diseases. As we look to the future, discussions centered on the need for cohesive policies and investments to ensure Europe's robust response to health challenges.   🔵 The occasion coincided with the landmark approval of IXCHIQ®, the world's first Chikungunya vaccine, highlighting the European biotech industry's potential to rise to the challenge of health crises amid a rapidly changing global environment.    We remain committed to promoting a more resilient future, where EU and national industries collaboratively address the ever-changing global health challenges. #healthpreparedness #HealthUnion #TeamEurope

As part of our ongoing Copernicus activation in the region of Valencia (Spain), we have a plane and crew ready at Alicante Airport. Once conditions improve, they will fly over 1200 square kilometers to take highly detailed photos at 20 centimeters resolution. These images will then be verified and processed to correct camera angles and align them with Earth's terrain, helping us understand the extent of the floods and their impact. This was one of the last #CopernicusEmergency activations we started in October. See some other projects we worked on last month ↓

On 26 December 2004 at 07:59 local time, an undersea earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia. About 20 minutes later, the deadly tsunami reached the coastline of Indonesia's Aceh Province. Waves up to 30 metres high, over 230,000 lives lost, and 2 million people left homeless.⁣ ⁣ The Indian Ocean Tsunami brought unimaginable destruction across 14 countries, and prompted a massive international emergency response.⁣ ⁣ The European Union was among those who quickly stepped in, providing essential aid and relief to affected communities.⁣ ⁣ On today's World Tsunami Day, we remember this tragedy that reshaped global disaster preparedness efforts. Since then, the EU has continued to invest in helping vulnerable communities around the world better prepare for and respond to disasters.⁣ #WorldTsunamiDay #PreparednessSavesLives 📷 © 1, 5, 6 - IOM, 2 - UN OCHA (photographer: Robert Turnerp⁣), 3 - WFP (photographer: Rein Skullerud)⁣, 4 - European Union (photographer: Aftab Alam).

Meet Arlynn, our colleague from the EU Humanitarian Aid office in the Philippines. She's currently on the ground, assessing humanitarian needs in areas hit by typhoon Trami - locally knows as Kristine. The EU has approved €1.5 million in humanitarian aid to help provide assistance to the most affected communities, including people who have lost their homes and remain displaced. #KristinePH #EUHumanitarianAid

"My deepest condolences to the families and friends who have lost their loved ones in the devastating flash floods in eastern Spain. On request for emergency mapping, we have activated the Copernicus Emergency Management Service. We stand ready to help further." - EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič. #EUSolidarity

In September, Rwanda declared its first-ever Marburg disease outbreak. Centered mainly in the capital, Kigali, the outbreak had led to 64 confirmed cases and 15 deaths by 25 October 2024. An estimated 1.75 million people are at potential risk. New EU humanitarian funding will support Rwanda in addressing this health emergency through: 😷 Strengthening coordination and surveillance 👩⚕️ Managing new cases and training healthcare workers 💊 Providing essential medical supplies The project, to be implemented by the World Health Organization and ALIMA, is set to run for six months. Find out more: https://europa.eu/!KPYmDW #MarburgDisease Archive image for illustration purposes only | © European Union, 2020

If implemented, the two laws adopted today by the Knesset of Israel would likely prevent UNRWA from continuing its essential work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as mandated by the UN General Assembly, with devastating consequences for Palestine refugees. I call on Israel to act consistently with its obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and its other obligations under international law, including under international humanitarian law and those concerning privileges and immunities of the United Nations. National legislation cannot alter those obligations. I am bringing this matter to the attention of the UN General Assembly, and will keep the Assembly closely informed as the situation develops. There is no alternative to UNRWA.

"They have destroyed our hearts, our lives, our very essence." Yasser, Khadra, Tareq, and many other Palestinians in the West Bank have endured Israeli settler violence for years. Recently, however, the situation has gotten worse. Thanks to EU humanitarian funding, UNRWA records these violations of international humanitarian law and supports victims of demolitions. © European Union, 2024.

When it comes to health emergency preparedness and response, what is the interplay between climate change and infectious diseases? What role is the EU playing in the current Mpox crisis? How is the European Commission investing in SME’s to develop innovative medical countermeasures to tackle health threats?   The latest edition of the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) newsletter is now published and covers these topics and more:   🎤 Interview with Professor Rachel Lowe to discuss why outbreaks of climate-sensitive infectious diseases are increasing in the EU, and how shifting climate patterns could have an impact on future response efforts.   🦠 HERA delivery of 205,420 Mpox vaccines to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda to support affected African countries in their urgent need for vaccines to protect against this deadly disease.   🧪 Together with the European Investment Bank (EIB), the first signature of HERA Invest with a commitment of €20 million to support the French biopharmaceutical company Fabentech to help develop and deploy broad spectrum therapeutics aimed at addressing biological threats to public health. More investments are in the pipeline with other European companies.   💊 The Critical Medicines Alliance, which brings together key players from EU Member States, key industries, the civil society, and the scientific community, convened a first post summer meeting in their work on advancing initiatives aimed at ensuring the availability of essential medicines.   See the fourth chapter of HERA’s newsletter here and don’t forget to subscribe 👉 https://lnkd.in/gYb7XTv3   #ClimateChange #Mpox #MedicinesShortages #PublicHealth #HERA