Civil Protection Operations Research Articles

Neural-Network and Multivariate-Normal-Distribution Hybrid Method for Real-Time Ground-Shaking Reconstruction

ABSTRACT Ground-shaking maps provide a spatial representation of the impact of a seismic event in terms of ground-motion parameters (GMPs), especially useful in the context of seismic monitoring and civil protection operations. Algorithms used to compute these maps usually rely on seismic source parameters to steer the interpolation process and consequently are limited to operate in near-real time. The present work introduces a novel algorithm that combines neural networks with the multivariate normal distribution method to reconstruct ground-shaking maps using only data available in real time, improving on previously proposed algorithms. The core idea of the proposed algorithm is to maintain the structure proposed by ShakeMap while removing the dependence on the source parameters, imposed by the use of ground-motion prediction equations, by replacing them with an appropriate neural network working on the GMPs recorded in real time at the seismic stations. The overall workflow of the method and the details of the neural network architecture and training are described. A model trained on synthetic and recorded data to target seismic events affecting the Italian territory is tested using the 2016 Norcia, Italy, earthquake showing the method reconstruction capabilities, its robustness to noise and to network geometry changes, and its real-time potential.

From Data to Action: A Graph-Based Approach for Decision Support in Civil Protection Operations Planning

In the face of increasing frequency and severity of crises such as natural disasters, pandemics, and geopolitical conflicts, civil protection organizations are crucial for recovery and support for affected populations. However, the efficiency and effectiveness of these organizations in crisis response are often hindered by the manual generation of operation plans, characterized by cognitive overload and limited analytic overview. Existing systems focus on detecting crises or post-crisis analysis, overlooking proactive planning. We present GRETA, a graph-based operational planning approach utilizing semantic historical data for better decision support. GRETA uses Operational Scenario Patterns to model operations, mapping them onto a knowledge graph in JSON-LD format, thus creating a structured representation of past data to improve future crisis response planning. We tested GRETA with Germany's Federal Agency for Technical Relief, analyzing over 157,450 historic operations from 2012-2022. Results show GRETA enhances plan efficiency, accuracy, and comprehensiveness, aiding especially inexperienced planners.

Optimising the dosage of ready-to-use therapeutic food in children with uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial

Current standard management of severe acute malnutrition uses ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) at a single weight-based calculation resulting in an increasing amount of RUTF provided to the family as the child's weight increases during recovery. Using RUTF at a gradually reduced dosage as the child recovers could reduce costs while achieving similar growth response. We conducted an open-label, non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Children aged 6-59 months with a mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) of less than 115mm or a weight-for-height z-score (WHZ) of less than-3 or bipedal oedema and without medical complication were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) using a specially developed software and random blocks (size was kept confidential), to either the current standard treatment (increasing the RUTF amount with increasing weight) or the OptiMA strategy (decreasing the RUTF dose with increasing weight and MUAC). The main endpoint was proportion of children who achieved recovery over the 6 months follow up period, as defined as meeting the following criteria for two consecutive weeks after a minimum of 4 weeks' treatment: axillary temperature less than 37.5°C, no bipedal oedema, and anthropometric improvement (either MUAC 125mm or greater or WHZ-1.5 or higher). We performed analyses on the intention-to-treat (ITT) (all children) and per-protocol populations (participants who had a minimum prescription of 4 weeks' RUTF, received at least 90% of the total amount of RUTF they were supposed to receive as per the protocol, and had a maximum interval of 6 weeks between any two visits in the 6-month follow-up). The non-inferiority margin was 10%. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, and is now closed NCT03751475. Between July 22, 2019, and January 20, 2020, 491 children were randomly assigned, of whom 482 were analysed (240 in the standard group and 242 in the OptiMA group). In the ITT analysis, 234 (98%) children in the standard group and 231 (96%) children in OptiMA recovered (difference 2.0%, 95% CI-2.0% to 6.4%). In the PP analysis, 234 (98%) children in the standard group and 228 (97%) in OptiMA recovered (difference 1.3%, 95% CI-2.3% to 5.1%). Sensitivity analyses applying the same anthropometric recovery criteria to each group also showed non-inferiority of the OptiMA strategy in ITT and PP analysis. This non-inferiority trial treating uncomplicated children with MUAC of less than 115mm or a WHZ of less than-3 or bipedal oedema with decreasing RUTF dose as MUAC and weight increase demonstrated non-inferiority compared to the standard protocol in a highly food-insecure context in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These findings add evidence on the safety of RUTF dose reduction with significant RUTF cost savings. Innocent Foundation and European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. For the French translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

The Italian experience and its contribution to the Union Civil Protection Mechanism in reinforcing cultural heritage protection through the Proculther project

Purpose. The aim of the article is to explain how the Italian response capacities for the safeguarding of cultural heritage at risk of disaster has been enhanced over the past twenty-five years and how it has contributed to raising the awareness of this issue at international level. Approach/methodology. For this purpose, the main steps made in the last decades by Italy in including the protection of cultural heritage among other emergency issues are described below. In fact, Italy has made many efforts in the past decades to improve the emergency management of cultural heritage, paying particular attention to preparedness, prevention and response actions. Since the end of the past century, dedicated training courses have been organized at all levels as well as local, national and international exercises with specific scenarios dedicated to the protection of cultural heritage at risk of disaster in order to test specific procedures needed to ensure this type of response. In the meantime, the drafting of standard operating procedures specifically addressing the protection of vulnerable cultural heritage emerged as a result of a keen collaboration between the Italian Ministry of Culture (Italian acronym MiC) and the National Civil Protection Department (Italian acronym DPC). Findings. In this process of constant evolution of operational and technical capacities aimed at reducing the risk of cultural heritage disasters, the combination of past experience and acquired competences of Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, ICCROM and Fondazione Villa Montesca has prompted the launch of the PROCULTHER project, co-funded by the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG-ECHO). Value. The project aims to support and complement the efforts made by the European Union to strengthen cooperation between the EU Member States and Participating States in this field. In this sense, by pooling together European civil protection capacities and capabilities and providing for common standards enabling certified and well-equipped teams to work interchangeably when a disaster strikes, the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), is an essential and effective system aimed at allowing a stronger and more coherent collective response. Under this framework, the project is promoting, for the first time, the development of a common European methodology, tools and capacities in order to include the protection of cultural heritage in the disaster risk management cycle and to ensure structured collaboration among cultural heritage and civil protection stakeholders at local, national and European level.

Surface ruptures and land deformation from the 21 June 2022 Afghanistan earthquake

The 2022 Afghanistan earthquake occurred at the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan at 20:54:36 (UTC) on June 21, 2022. According to the USGS, the earthquake caused vibrations with a magnitude of 5.9, a hypocenter located at a depth of 10 km, and an epicenter at 33,092°N, 69,514°E. According to European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, this event resulted in disaster for human beings 1039 people died, 2949 people were injured, and damaged to homes and infrastructures of 4500 houses were partially or fully destroyed across Paktika and Khost provinces. It is necessary to improve the knowledge of this phenomenon. On the one hand, it is essential to quickly determine the extent of the affected area to provide timely relief services.
 On the other hand, it is necessary to determine the deformation characteristics of the fractured zone caused by earthquakes to minimize future damages. Conventional DInSAR technique applied to two images captured on June 18, 2022, and June 30, 2022, respectively, before and after the earthquake event shows the fractured zone with a maximum displacement of 78.4 cm, which locates on the left side of the previously identified northeast–southwest fault. The location of this zone is 15 km in the southward direction of the earthquake epicenter. The interferometric fringes show that a large area to the East of the study area is displaced in comparison to the original position. However, its Northwest region, which corresponds to the Paleogene formations, is much less affected by earthquakes. The earthquake occurred along a left lateral strike-slip fault in the plate boundary between India and Eurasia plates at the Northwestern margin of the collision.

A Review on Connecting Research, Policies and Networking in the Area of Climate-Related Extreme Events in the EU with Highlights of French Case Studies

The increasing severity and frequency of extreme weather and climate events (e.g., floods, heat and cold waves, storms, forest fires) resulting from climate change-compounded vulnerabilities and exposure require a specific research focus. Climate-related extreme events are part of disaster risk reduction policies ruled at international, EU, and national levels, covering various sectors and features such as awareness-raising, prevention, mitigation, preparedness, monitoring and detection, response, and recovery. A wide range of research and technological developments, as well as capacity-building and training projects, has supported the development and implementation of these policies and strategies. In particular, research and innovation actions support the paradigm shift from managing “disasters” to managing “risks” and enhancing resilience needs. In this respect, a huge body of knowledge and technology has been developed in the EU-funded Seventh Framework Programme (2007–2013) and Horizon 2020 (2014–2020), for example in the area of measures and technologies needed to enhance the response capacity to extreme weather and climate events affecting the security of people and assets. In addition, networking initiatives have been developed to connect scientists, policy-makers, practitioners, and industry and civil society representatives in order to boost research uptake, identify gaps, and elaborate research programs at EU level. Research and networking efforts are pursued within the newly starting framework program Horizon Europe (2021–2027), with a focus on supporting civil protection operations. This paper provides a general overview of relevant EU policies and examples of past and developing research in the area of weather and climate extreme events and highlights current networking efforts in this area.

Integrated primary health care services in two protracted refugee camp settings at the Thai-Myanmar border 2000-2018: trends on mortality and incidence of infectious diseases.

This study aimed to assess the health outcome of four epidemic-prone infectious diseases, in the context of a Primary Health Care project implemented in a protracted refugee setting along the Thai-Myanmar border. Refugees settled at the Thai-Myanmar border are fully dependent on support for health services, shelter, food, education, water, and sanitation. The Non-Governmental Organization Malteser International developed an integrated Primary Health Care program in close cooperation with trained camp residents over 25 years in the two settlements under its supervision. The project has been funded by the European Commission Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO). This was a retrospective primary health care project evaluation. All-cause mortality; morbidity trends in malaria, lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), watery diarrhea, and dysentery; and health service utilization covering a time span of 18 years were assessed. Programmatic changes in the Primary Health Care (PHC) project and events with a potential effect on health of the target population were examined. Despite the continuous drain of trained health care workers, the volatile influx of refugees, and the isolated location of the two camps, the initial basic curative health care developed into an integrated and comprehensive PHC project including a SPHERE-compliant water, sanitation, and hygiene program. Malaria, LRTIs, watery diarrhea, and dysentery morbidity dropped twelve, three, two, and fivefold, respectively, over the 18-year period evaluated while the health services utilization dropped from 7.1 to 2.9 consultations per refugee/year. The international community may face situations where integration of refugees into the health services of the host country is not possible. In such a context, integrated and evidence-based PHC adequately funded and implemented by one health agency is an effective and relevant approach to reduce the infectious diseases burden under the constraints of semipermanent living conditions.

Організація медичної допомоги при подіях із масовим ураженням людей

Актуальність. Збільшення кількості надзвичайних ситуацій із масовим ураженням людей, зокрема через аварії на транспорті або терористичні напади, призводить до одночасного надходження значної кількості постраждалих осіб до закладів охорони здоров’я та потребує збільшення готовності системи охорони здоров’я до медичного реагування через постійний перегляд і опрацювання Плану реагування та взаємодії під час виникнення надзвичайних ситуацій і ліквідації їх наслідків. Під поняттям «події з масовим ураженням людей» (для закладу охорони здоров’я) у поданій статті розуміють ситуацію, через яку виникає невідповідність між одночасним надходженням значної кількості постраждалих і можливостями надання їм медичної допомоги без впровадження змін у повсякденні форми та методи роботи, на відміну від надзвичайної ситуації потреба залучення зовнішніх ресурсів закладом охорони здоров’я відсутня або мінімальна. Мета. Оптимізація інформаційного забезпечення системи управління медичною допомогою постраждалим при подіях із масовим ураженням людей. Матеріали та методи. Робота ґрунтується на власному досвіді організації та безпосередньому наданні медичної допомоги постраждалим при подіях із масовим ураженням людей і надзвичайних ситуаціях в Україні та за її межами, участі у міжнародних проектах і навчаннях, зокрема під егідою Європейської комісії гуманітарної допомоги та цивільного захисту. Під час проведення дослідження застосовано бібліографічний і семантичний методи пізнання. Узагальнено організаційні аспекти медичного забезпечення 46 випадків масового ураження людей, які відбулись у світі впродовж 1979–2015 рр., із них унаслідок терористичних нападів з використанням вибухових пристроїв — 33 (71,7 %), вогнепальної зброї проти незахищеного цивільного населення — 6 (13 %), пожежі в закладах відпочинку — 3 (6,5 %), сильнодіючих отруйних речовин — 2 (4,3 %) і внаслідок транспортних аварій — 2 (4,3 %). Результати. Організація медичної допомоги постраждалим внаслідок подій із масовим ураженням має ґрунтуватись на принципах 4С кризового менеджменту відповідно до введеного режиму функціонування органів і закладів охорони здоров’я. В системі охорони здоров’я України доцільно впровадити режими, що існують в країнах Європейського Союзу: 1) готовність до можливого надходження значної кількості постраждалих («зелений рівень»); 2) часткова мобілізація («жовтий рівень»); 3) повна мобілізації («червоний рівень»). Первинне медичне сортування постраждалих на догоспітальному етапі передбачає розподіл на дві основні групи: термінові та нетермінові. Нетермінових постраждалих слід доставити до лікарень, які географічно розташовано недалеко від місця події, але не до найближчого закладу, який має бути готовим до надання екстреної медичної допомоги терміновим хворим і тим, хто звернувся самостійно (самозвернення), кількість яких може суттєво перевищувати тих, кого доставлено бригадами екстреної (швидкої) медичної допомоги. До групи управління закладу охорони здоров’я включають відповідальних чергових — лікаря-хірурга та лікаря-анестезіолога. До форм інформаційного забезпечення системи управління надання медичної допомоги на догоспітальному етапу належать: 1) сили та засоби на місці події; 2) розподіл постраждалих на місці події; 3) потреба підсилення догоспітального етапу. На госпітальному етапі визначають можливості проведення хірургічних операцій та кількість вільних лікарняних ліжок: 1) операційний блок; 2) лікарняні ліжка. Висновки. В систему охорони здоров’я України при подіях із масовим ураженням людей доцільно впровадити відповідні рівні функціонування, що використовують в країнах Європейського Союзу. Перерозподіл наявних ресурсів охорони здоров’я при наданні медичної допомоги постраждалим при подіях із масовим ураженням людей на догоспітальному та госпітальному етапах критично важливе для збереження життя та здоров’я постраждалих. Управління надання медичної допомоги при масовому ураженні людей потребує відповідного інформаційного забезпечення догоспітального та госпітального етапів, впровадження галузевої та міжвідомчої взаємодії.

Unoccupied Aircraft Systems (UASs) Reveal the Morphological Changes at Stromboli Volcano (Italy) before, between, and after the 3 July and 28 August 2019 Paroxysmal Eruptions

In July and August 2019, two paroxysmal eruptions dramatically changed the morphology of the crater terrace that hosts the active vents of Stromboli volcano (Italy). Here, we document these morphological changes, by using 2259 UAS-derived photographs from eight surveys and Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetric techniques, resulting in 3D point clouds, orthomosaics, and digital surface models (DSMs) with resolution ranging from 8.1 to 12.4 cm/pixel. We focus on the morphological evolution of volcanic features and volume changes in the crater terrace and the upper part of the underlying slope (Sciara del Fuoco). We identify both crater terrace and lava field variations, with vents shifting up to 47 m and the accumulation of tephra deposits. The maximum elevation changes related to the two paroxysmal eruptions (in between May and September 2019) range from +41.4 to −26.4 m at the lava field and N crater area, respectively. Throughout September 2018–June 2020, the total volume change in the surveyed area was +447,335 m3. Despite Stromboli being one of the best-studied volcanoes worldwide, the UAS-based photogrammetry products of this study provide unprecedented high spatiotemporal resolution observations of its entire summit area, in a period when volcanic activity made the classic field inspections and helicopter overflights too risky. Routinely applied UAS operations represent an effective and evolving tool for volcanic hazard assessment and to support decision-makers involved in volcanic surveillance and civil protection operations.

From Mobilization to Lessons Learnt – Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations in Mozambique 2019

This article is a joint effort of civil protection and humanitarian aid experts to compare and search for a common ground of the two relief and recovery mechanisms deployed to disasters. The hypothesis says that efficiency and close collaboration of civil protection and humanitarian aid is a key requirement to reduce the impact of major disasters on developing countries and affected populations. As a case study tropical cyclones, Idai and Kenneth that hit Mozambique in 2019 have been chosen. Strategic and operational documents, lessons learnt reports, statistics, appeals, donor response decryptions, semi-formal interviews with delegates to Mozambique, personal experiences and findings have been used. Starting from the situation analysis the authors presented needs assessment tools and different assets mobilized to the operation, then they showed how these assets were allocated to sectoral activities. The decision-making process and collaboration with the host nation were included. Lively discussion on main challenges allowed to formulate a few key recommendations for the future. Strengthening international cooperation and coordination through a complex mechanism of sharing competencies among different stakeholders, proper division of tasks and responsibilities, and reviewing lessons learnt from relief operations seem to be key factors to develop and improve the whole aid system.

Optimising Malnutrition Treatment in Children 6–59 Months-OptiMA-DRC: Primary Outcome of a Randomised Control Trial in Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract Objectives The main objective was to compare the OptiMA strategy- ie.supplementing with ready-to-use therapeutic food at a gradually reduced doses- with the current national standard protocol. Methods This non-inferiority, individually randomised controlled clinical trial was conducted in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Children 6–59 months with MUAC < 125 mm or weight-for-height Zscore< −3 or oedema and without medical complication were randomized to either OptiMA or standard arm and followed for 6 months. The main outcome was a binary composite indicator at 6-months post inclusion: child alive, not acutely malnourished per the study definition, and without an additional episode of acute malnutrition throughout the observation period. Non-inferiority was shown if the upper-bound of the 95% CI of the difference of proportion of favourable outcome between the two strategies was less than 10% in both intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses. Superiority (upper-bound of the 95% CI of this difference lower than 0%) was considered if non-inferiority was shown. Results Between July 2019 and July 2020, 981 children were enrolled. 896 children were included in the ITT analysis (450 OptiMA and 446 standard), 792 in the PP analysis. All children under OptiMA and 200 children in the standard arm were eligible for RUTF. ITT analysis showed 325 (72·2%) children had a favourable outcome under OptiMA versus 282 (63·2%) in the standard arm (difference: −9·2%, 95% CI: −15·9% to −2·0%). PP analysis was similar. Under OptiMA, weight and MUAC gain were greater (median weight gain, 1700 g versus 1600 g, P = 0·003 and median MUAC gain, 13 mm versus 12 mm, P = 0·012), and RUTF consumption was lower (median of 64 sachets versus 102 sachets, P = 0·018). There was no difference in hospitalization (10% OptiMA, 7% standard, P = 0·228) or mortality rates (0·2% in both arms). Conclusions OptiMA was superior to the DRC standard protocol. It expanded access to RUTF, promoted improved anthropometry with lower RUTF consumption during treatment, and led to better outcomes at 6-months post inclusion. These results suggest benefits in giving smaller rations of RUTF at an earlier stage of malnutrition rather than larger rations only when children become severely malnourished. Funding Sources Innocent Foundation (London) European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (Brussels).

Optimising Malnutrition Treatment – OptiMA-DRC: Recovery of Severely Wasted Children 6–59 Months in a Randomised Control Trial in Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract Objectives The main secondary objective of OptiMA-DRC trial was to compare the OptiMA strategy, ie.supplementing with one product, ready-to-use therapeutic food at a gradually reduced doses, with the current national nutritionnal standard protocol in children with uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition (SAM) at inclusion (MUAC < 115 mm or WHZ< −3 or oedema) in both arms. Methods This non-inferiority, individually randomised controlled clinical trial was conducted in Kasai province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between July 2019 and July 2020. Children 6–59 months with MUAC < 115 mm or weight-for-height Zscore (WHZ)< −3 or oedema and without medical complication were randomized to either the OptiMA or standard arm and followed for 6 months.. Recovery was defined as MUAC > 125 mm for OptiMA and MUAC > 125 mm or WHZ >−1.5 for the standard arm, and absence of oedema, for two consecutive weeks in treatment with a 4-week minimum stay, and at any time during 6-months post-inclusion. Non-inferiority was shown if the upper-bound of the 95%CI of the difference of proportion of recovery between the two strategies was less than 10% in both intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses. Superiority (upper-bound of the 95%CI of this difference lower than 0%) was considered if non-inferiority was shown. Results Overall, 482 children with uncomplicated SAM were included in ITT analysis (242 OptiMA, 240 standard). At 6 months, 231 (95·5%) children recovered under OptiMA versus 234 (97·5%) under standard protocol (difference −2·0%, 95%CI: −1·96% to 6·4%). PP analysis was similar. There was no difference in hospitalization (11% OptiMA, 12% standard, P = 0·887) or mortality rates (0·2% both arms). Under OptiMA, weight and MUAC gains in recovered children (N = 465) were greater (median weight gain, 1400g versus 1200g, P< 0·001; median MUAC gain, 14 mm versus 11 mm, P < 0·001) and RUTF consumption (sachets) was lower (median 74 versus 112, P < 0·001). Conclusions Children with uncomplicated SAM recovered as well under OptiMA as under the DRC standard protocol. Gradual RUTF reduction may allow for increased nutrition program coverage by better allocating available resources. Funding Sources Innocent Foundation (London) European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (Brussels).

Consular Crisis Management Operations: Special Considerations and Challenges.

Assisting the increasing number of tourists and foreign nationals exposed to crises situations in third countries-many of them far from home and extremely vulnerable-presents significant challenges. Despite the need to explore consular crisis management from an operational perspective, there are few studies that address the issue. This paper aims to describe the characteristics and context of consular crisis management operations based on personal experiences, scientific papers, grey literature, and key informant interviews.Consular crisis management operations are conducted in a context where the stakeholders and the legal environment may differ from humanitarian or civil protection operations. The physical distance causes logistical challenges and demands specific considerations for both civilian and medical evacuation. Consular crisis management operations often include medical care, psychosocial support activities, and disaster victim identification (DVI) activities. Political and media interest may also add significant challenges to such operations. Therefore, specific knowledge, skills, and preparations are needed for both diplomatic crisis management professionals and health professionals. Further research on consular crisis management activities-as well as the concept of consular crisis management itself-is strongly needed.

The Impact of Dosage Variability of Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance on Food Security in Syrian Refugees in Lebanon

Abstract Objectives While food and cash-assistance have been shown to improve food security in Syrian refugees living in Lebanon, no studies have investigated dosage variability of cash transfers on food security in this setting. We assessed the impact of short- (≤12 months) and long-term (>12 months) multi-purpose cash assistance (MPC) provided by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over and above food assistance, and the impact of discontinuation from MPC, on food security of Syrian refugees. Methods We used a quasi-experimental fuzzy Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD). A multi-dimensional household survey collected data in three-waves, at 6-month intervals. Households were sampled from a listing of registered Syrian refugees with WFP/UNHCR Vulnerability scores +/−10 points around the eligibility cut-off for MPC. Of 17,740 households approached, 11,457 completed the survey (65%). We assessed household food insecurity using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale and Livelihood Coping Strategies Index and diet quality using Food Consumption Score (FCS), and Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS). We estimated the treatment effect of MPC using two-stage least squares regression controlling for demographic characteristics (age, sex, head of household education) and receipt of other cash assistance. Results Food insecurity experience in those receiving long-term MPC decreased (P < 0.05), with a concomitant 7.7 percentage point decrease in reliance on emergency coping strategies (P < 0.01). Long-term MPC recipients had a 6 point increase in FCS (P < 0.01) along with an increase in diet diversity (P < 0.05), with higher consumption of vegetables, fish, chicken, and eggs found in both short-term and long-term MPC recipients. Conclusions There was a significant improvement in food security and diet quality among households receiving long-term MPC but not among those receiving short-term MPC (except for a small increase in diet diversity) or who were discontinued. Positive impact was observed above and beyond food assistance. Stability of assistance is therefore key in achieving impact from MPC n food security in this population. Funding Sources European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, German Federal Foreign Office, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and UK Aid, through CAMEALEON.

ABOUT IMPROVEMENT OF THE REGULATORY BASE FOR TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS AND TEST METHODS FOR DELIVERY FIRE HOSES

The urgency of the development of the corresponding national standard, which regulates the technical requirements and test methods for the layflat delivery fire hoses for fire vehicle. Currently, the Operative Rescue Service mainly uses pressure hoses of the “T” type (for fire vehicle ) with a diameter of 51 mm and 77 mm, the technical condition of which often does not meet the requirements, which may not withstand the pressure that pumps of even traditionally used fire vehicle develop when extinguishing fires. The use of such hoses in extinguishing real fires can limit the ability, reduce the effectiveness of operational and tactical operations of operational and rescue units, as well as put personnel at risk. Today, there are a number of complaints from Civil Protection Operations and Rescue units regarding substandard fire hoses being purchased and operated. Basically, the complaints concern the non-conformity of these products with respect to the pressure requirements and the wear resistance of the surface of the material from which it is made. Over the past three years, the State Emergency Service has purchased about 120 fire vehicle each year, which are completed with fire delivery hoses with diameters of 51 and 77 mm. The requirements of the current national standard DSTU 3810-98 in Ukraine are outdated and do not meet the practical needs of today. Taking into account that new types of fire hoses and technologies of their creation have appeared in the leading countries of the world, and considering that the standard in Ukraine DSTU EN 15889: 2017 does not apply to layflat delivery fire hoses for fire vehicles, the issue of developing a national standard for this type of fire hose is urgent. In addition, European regulatory document CEN / TR 16099 states that the EU does not have a single standard that sets the technical requirements for "flat-fire attack hoses", ie those used with fire-fighting pumps. In EU countries, this issue is likely to be governed by the individual national standards of the Member States. This is confirmed by the German national standard DIN 14811-2008 / A1-2012, A2-2014. The technical characteristics and test methods of fire hoses in accordance with current DSTU 3810-98 and German standard DIN 14811-2008 are given. On the basis of analytical research the methods of testing layflat delivery fire hoses are specified, which will be given in the draft national standard. Keywords: layflat delivery fire hoses, rescue vehicles, specifications, test methods.

Wildfire detection using transfer learning on augmented datasets

Wildfire detection is a time-critical application as the difficulty to pinpoint ignition locations in a short time-frame often leads to the escalation of the severity of fire events. This problem has motivated considerable interest from expert systems research to develop accurate early-warning applications and the breakthroughs in deep learning in complex visual understanding tasks open novel research opportunities. However, despite the improvements in performance demonstrated in the current literature, a comprehensive study of the challenges and limitations of this approach is still a gap in the state-of-the-art. To address this issue, the contributions of this work are threefold. First, we overview recent works to identify common difficulties and shortcomings of these approaches, and assess issues related to the quality of the databases. Second, to overcome data limitations, this work proposes a transfer learning approach coupled with data augmentation techniques tested under a tenfold cross-validation scheme. The proposed framework enables leveraging an open-source dataset featuring images from more than 35 real fire events, which unlike video-based works offers higher variability between samples, allowing evaluating the approach in an extensive set of real scenarios. Third, this article presents an in-depth study of the limitations, providing a comprehensive analysis of the patterns causing misclassifications. The key insights gained in this analysis provide relevant takeaways to guide future research towards the implementation of expert systems in decision support systems in firefighting and civil protection operations.

ГУМАНІТАРНА ДОПОМОГА ТА ЦИВІЛЬНИЙ ЗАХИСТ ЯК НАПРЯМ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ ЄВРОПЕЙСЬКОГО СОЮЗУ ДЛЯ СПРИЯННЯ МІЖНАРОДНОМУ МИРУ Й БЕЗПЕЦІ

Гуманітарна допомога й цивільний захист належать до напрямів зовнішньополітичної діяльності Європейського Союзу. Допомога спрямовується через 200+ міжнародних і місцевих партнерських організацій та агентств і підтримується тисячами європейських волонтерів. Це робить ЄС одним із найпотужніших донорів гуманітарної допомоги у світі. На міжнародній арені Союз підтримує й пропагує свої цінності та інтереси й сприяє миру, безпеці, сталому розвитку і взаємній повазі між народами. Збереження життя, запобігання та полегшення людських страждань, збереження честі й гідності населення, яке постраждало від стихійних лих та техногенних криз, – місія Генерального директорату Європейської комісії з питань цивільного захисту й операцій із гуманітарної допомоги. Уся діяльність ЄС та країн-членів у сфері надання гуманітарної допомоги здійснюється відповідно до норм міжнародного гуманітарного права і його базових принципів: гуманності, нейтральності, неупередженості та незалежності. Операції з надання допомоги ЄС керуються такими додатковими принципами: координації, узгодженості й взаємодоповнюваності між задіяними учасниками; якості, ефективності та підзвітності; різноманітності партнерських відносин. Низка нормативно-правових документів регулює гуманітарну діяльність ЄС щодо збереження життя людей під час надзвичайних ситуацій, подолання їхніх негайних негативних наслідків; надання необхідної допомоги постраждалим від довготривалих криз, особливо там, де уряди виявляються неспроможними допомогти; боротьби з наслідками переселення населення; забезпечення готовності до ризиків стихійних лих і використання відповідного швидкого раннього попередження й системи втручання тощо. Із 1992 р. ЄС надавав допомогу потерпілим після численних катастроф по всьому світу, зокрема жертвам війни в Югославії, геноциду в Руанді, громадянської війни в Судані; постраждалим від стихійних лих у Тихоокеанському регіоні, Західній Африці, на Балканах тощо. Сьогодні Україна також є реципієнтом гуманітарної допомоги ЄС .

Sentinel-1 SAR Amplitude Imagery for Rapid Landslide Detection

Despite landslides impact the society worldwide every day, landslide information is inhomogeneous and lacking. When landslides occur in remote areas or where the availability of optical images is rare due to cloud persistence, they might remain unknown, or unnoticed for long time, preventing studies and hampering civil protection operations. The unprecedented availability of SAR C-band images provided by the Sentinel-1 constellation offers the opportunity to propose new solutions to detect landslides events. In this work, we perform a systematic assessment of Sentinel-1 SAR C-band images acquired before and after known events. We present the results of a pilot study on 32 worldwide cases of rapid landslides entailing different types, sizes, slope expositions, as well as pre-existing land cover, triggering factors and climatic regimes. Results show that in about eighty-four percent of the cases, changes caused by landslides on SAR amplitudes are unambiguous, whereas only in about thirteen percent of the cases there is no evidence. On the other hand, the signal does not allow for a systematic use to produce inventories because only in 8 cases, a delineation of the landslide borders (i.e., mapping) can be manually attempted. In a few cases, cascade multi-hazard (e.g., floods caused by landslides) and evidences of extreme triggering factors (e.g., strong earthquakes or very rapid snow melting) were detected. The method promises to increase the availability of information on landslides at different spatial and temporal scales with benefits for event magnitude assessment during weather-related emergencies, model tuning, and landslide forecast model validation, in particular when accurate mapping is not required.

Analytical Approach to Cooperation Between Fire Brigade and the Police — Comparison Study on Base of Polish and Portuguese Experiences

Cooperation is one of the fundamental processes which shape the natural, social, economic and cultural environments. Therefore, it appears evident that this concept gained recognition within numerous scientific areas, which include, among others: management, economics, anthropology, sociology, political science, the psychology of work, and others. The scope of concerned aspects relates to human relations, it seems necessary to reflect on the subject of consideration from the point of view of sociology. In the contemporary world everybody operates within a global system, therefore everyone is interdependent. The paradigm of the organization constitutes of a man, the purpose and structure. Cooperation is the opposite of social conflict, hence by the means of cooperation conflicts may be prevented and through cooperation conflicts may be solved. Currently, the rescue system in Poland is based on organized but dispersed areas of responsibility among public authorities and non-governmental organizations. In Portugal, civil protection and relief operations are multidisciplinary activities developed by agencies, services and entities, at the national, district and municipal levels, duly organized in the Integrated Protection and Relief Operations System. Therefore cooperation between agencies should be a never ending process which is realized through all crises management phases. Only then it brings the synergy effect in the key moments of complex life-saving operations. These two agencies are almost always present on a scene of small and major incidents. Therefore the authors recognized that the problem is worth to be addressed as a comparison study on the base of Polish and Portuguese experiences.

The effectiveness of national and EU-level civil protection systems: evidence from 17 member states

ABSTRACT A number of high profile crises and disasters have driven the EU to increase cooperation among its member states in the area of civil protection and to enhance its capacity to conduct civil protection operations in Europe and around the world. However, in the light of recent transboundary crises in the EU, manifested by the refugee crisis, terrorist attacks, and natural disasters, it is far from clear how effective such cooperative EU arrangements can be due to differences in the way national civil protection has been organized and due to the question of whether sufficient trust exists within and between the involved organizations. In this article, drawing from a unique study of civil protection agencies in 17 EU member states, and utilizing theories on crisis management, public administration and trust, we shed light on the factors that promote national and EU-level effectiveness in civil protection and crisis management.