EUROPE/ITALY - New Italian aid agency to increase capacity to provide prompt, effective and transparent intervention in the case of a major humanitarian crisis

Rome (Agenzia Fides) - Agire is the name of a new emergency agency recently presented in Rome, launched by a partnership of six international NGOs: Actionaid, Amref, Save the children Italia, Terre des hommes Italia, Vis (Volontariato internazionale per lo sviluppo), WWF
Agire will intervene in serious humanitarian emergencies due to war or natural disasters and calamities.
Agire will operate on two fronts. When the crisis breaks it will launch appeals all over the country to collect funds with the help of information media and private bodies. At the end of a four week fund raising period the mission of nine months (extendable) will start. Considering the rooted presence of these NGOs in many parts of the world, not all will participate in every aid programme, only those with the best contact and action networks in the specific place.
Capable of mobilising regularly already 400,000 citizens, the six organisations hope to increase the visibility of the emergencies on which they will be operating and to reactivate the national debate on the subject of humanitarianism.
“ The aim of ‘Agire’ is to improve emergency assistance provided by NGOs by increasing the capacity for prompt, effective and transparent intervention in the case of a major humanitarian crisis" - said Dr Bertotto. (AP) (27/7/2007 Agenzia Fides; Righe:23; Parole;236)