Press Release: Disaster relief: Commission and UN OCHA to strengthen co-operation

The European Commission and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) agreed on 3 November 2004 to reinforce their cooperation in the area of disaster relief to better serve the needs of the victims. The agreement aimed to ensure efficient co-operation when both organisations provide or facilitate assistance to a country hit by man-made or natural disasters. The goals were to maximise use of the available resources and to avoid duplication of efforts.