ec.europa.eu The European Commission in Brussels has a unit called the MIC (Monitoring and Information Centre) which is staffed 24/7 and which coordinates requests for help and offers of assistance to and from EU Member States as well as other countries. They act on both natural and man-made disasters. A country hit by an earthquake for example, may contact the MIC listing the assistance they need, (a field hospital, ten search and rescue teams with specialised dogs, pumps for clean water, tents and blankets etc). The MIC will forward this request to all Member States and then coordinate the help they offer. Thanks to this the right help arrives quickly at destination. Download: ec.europa.eu