New momentum for B-FAST after 20 years of service

For two decades, the Belgian First Aid and Support Team (B-FAST) has delivered critical assistance in disaster-stricken regions across the globe. To address today’s complex and challenging realities, insights from past experiences have been integrated into a renewed vision.

Large-scale catastrophes occur globally every year. Consider natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes. This also includes man-made disasters, including industrial accidents and conflicts. 

In the event of a disaster, affected countries may request international assistance to ensure prompt and effective emergency aid. To facilitate this, the country in question contacts the European Union (EU) or the United Nations (UN). Following that, B-FAST can be mobilised to assist.

B-FAST's crisis assistance tackles pressing needs. Among other things, it can purify or pump away water, set up field hospitals or conduct rescue operations after floods. Therein also lies the difference with humanitarian aid, which provides longer-term relief.

Permanent structure

B-FAST was officially established in 2003. However, the need for a permanent structure capable of responding quickly and efficiently emerged as early as 1999. Türkiye was then struck by a severe earthquake, prompting our country to offer assistance. However, aid operations were fairly unstructured. For instance, volunteers travelled to the affected region on their own accord.

To prevent similar situations in the future, several government departments, each bringing their own expertise, collaborated. The Ministry of Defence, FPS Home Affairs, FPS Public Health, FPS BOSA, and the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, along with our FPS—specifically, the FPS Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Development Cooperation—collaborated to establish B-FAST.

Just a month after its establishment, a B-FAST intervention team was dispatched to Algeria to search for survivors and provide care for the injured following a major earthquake. The team consisted of 67 volunteers, including Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) experts with their search dogs. In addition to the medical module, B-FAST donated generators and tents through the Belgian Red Cross.
 

A flood of aid

Perhaps one of the most memorable relief efforts was the response to the devastating seaquake in Southeast Asia on Boxing Day 2004. Tsunamis reaching heights of 10 metres swept across the Indian Ocean at speeds of up to 900 km/h, inundating coastlines throughout the region. Over 184,000 people lost their lives, primarily in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. It was one of the worst disasters in recent history.

Among other initiatives, B-FAST dispatched victim identification teams to Thailand. In Indonesia, another team assisted the local government and the UN in establishing camps for displaced people. B-FAST also funded the shipment of materials from UNICEF and Doctors without borders to Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Food parcels were also donated.

Additionally, B-FAST responded to a major earthquake in Haiti in 2010 and a Category 5 typhoon in the Philippines in 2013, among other emergencies. The operations proceeded smoothly, and the teams collaborated effectively with local authorities.

Developing expertise

We learned many valuable lessons from the missions undertaken during B-FAST's first ten years. It soon became evident that there was an oversupply of Search and Rescue teams, while other areas faced significant shortages. B-FAST therefore chose to reduce its Search and Rescue teams and specialise in areas such as medical care through field hospitals, water purification, high-capacity pumps, and the establishment of tent camps.
 

Success in Türkiye

Following the massive earthquake in Türkiye in 2023, B-FAST deployed a medical intervention team to replace the damaged hospital in Kirikhan. There was criticism at the time regarding the team's response time, but this was convincingly addressed in an earlier article.

In just ten days, B-FAST established a fully operational hospital that included an emergency department, a general consultation area, a radiology department, a pharmacy, an operating theatre, a dedicated mother-and-child unit, a kitchen, and a water purification unit.

After 22 days, the field hospital was transferred to the government of Türkiye. During this period, the B-FAST field hospital operated 24/7, helping an average of 159 patients each day. As a result, the team of 211 volunteers was able to assist a total of 3,503 patients. The total cost of the intervention in Türkiye was 8 million euros.
 

A new vision

The world is not what it was 20 years ago, and the field of emergency response has significantly evolved in recent years. B-FAST's 20th anniversary therefore proved the ideal opportunity to revise B-FAST's vision and legal framework and adapt it to today's reality. Nowadays, for example, crises tend to last much longer and often unfold in more challenging contexts. Also included were the numerous lessons learned from two decades of experience. The new royal decree outlines the following key directives:

• The maximum duration of an operation has been extended from 10 days to 3 months.
• It is strongly advised to first deploy a multidisciplinary reconnaissance team to thoroughly assess the situation. This approach can save valuable time, as demonstrated by the operation in Türkiye in 2023.
• Moving forward, B-FAST will also be able to operate in unstable areas, provided there are adequate security guarantees.
• In addition to sending emergency relief supplies—such as tents, food, generators, and medical and hygiene equipment—and deploying experts and modules like field hospitals and water purification systems abroad, medical evacuations to Belgium will also be possible.
• B-FAST is increasingly focused on professionalisation;
• Due to the multitude of stakeholders involved, effective coordination is essential, particularly through the EU and its Civil Protection Mechanism;
• It will also be possible to deploy a team of experts in advance of a crisis to enhance the response capacity of the affected country.

As mentioned earlier, various government departments collaborate seamlessly within B-FAST. The new vision clearly outlines the role of each participant and emphasises the complementarity of diverse expertise. This approach enables them to move forward with renewed momentum.

Currently, B-FAST has an annual budget of about €2.3 million. However, during major crises, the government can swiftly allocate additional budgets and resources to ensure appropriate emergency assistance.

Interventions in Gaza

The new vision and increased budget are proving to be essential. This year, for example, B-FAST has dedicated significant effort to assisting those in need in Gaza, including sending medical and hygiene supplies, tents, and sleeping bags. Through Egypt, we delivered health products, while in Jordan, we conducted air drops of ready-to-eat meals. In line with the new vision, B-FAST recently evacuated 4 Palestinian children with cancer for treatment in Belgium.
 

What about Belgium?

Some may question why B-FAST operates only abroad and not in the event of disasters within Belgium. While the question is understandable—given the name 'Belgian First Aid'—this is a misconception. After all, B-FAST collaborates with experts from various government departments, including civil protection and the army, as well as with medical specialists—such as doctors and nurses—who volunteer their services. Should a catastrophe occur in our country, they will offer their services in Belgium within their usual working environment. Consider, for example, our Belgian hospitals and our own civil protection services.

Moreover, if a serious disaster occurs here, Belgium can also call on international solidarity. For instance, in 2021, we requested foreign aid through the European Civil Protection Mechanism following the severe floods in Wallonia.