Brussels – The European Commission estimates that more than 300 million people worldwide will need humanitarian assistance this year. To do its part, the EU announced today (Jan. 16) to have committed an initial budget of 1.9 billion from the 2025 EU budget for humanitarian assistance. Of this, more than half a billion will go to Africa.
As explained by the EU Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management, and Equality, Belgian Hadja Lahbib, the funding will support the action of the EU’s partners on the ground: “The UN family, the Red Cross/Red Crescent family, international and local governments and non-governmental organizations.” In addition to the 605 million directed to Africa—510 to sub-Saharan and West Africa and 95 to North Africa and Yemen—the second largest recipient will be the Middle East, where “the humanitarian situation remains extremely acute and fragile, especially in Gaza.” Also in Syria, as we wait to understand what direction the new power in Damascus will take. To support the people in the region, the EU will commit €375 million.
The European Commission has also earmarked some €182 million for humanitarian assistance in Asia, particularly for the Myanmar crisis and its impact in Bangladesh, and to support the civilian population oppressed by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. In Latin America, an initial allocation of €113 million will be allocated to address the domestic and regional impact of the crisis in Venezuela, the needs of the most vulnerable people affected by armed conflict in Colombia, the complex crisis in Haiti and the violence in Central America, Mexico, and Ecuador.
For Ukraine, now in its third year of war, the initial planned allocation is €140 million. Another €8 million is earmarked for humanitarian projects in neighbouring Moldova. Completig the picture are €35 million allocated to the Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region and €5 million to the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia.
Lahbib reiterated the EU institutions’ call for “safe and unhindered access” to people in need: “Funding is not enough; we must be able to reach the most vulnerable. And for this, it is urgent that all parties respect international humanitarian law,” the EU commissioner said. In the past year, the EU’s initial budget for humanitarian assistance was €1.8 billion.
The European Commission has set aside additional emergency funding in the humanitarian budget for 2025: more than €295 million is reserved for global interventions to respond to sudden emergencies and unforeseen humanitarian crises that may occur during the year, while about €110 million will be allocated for horizontal activities, including innovative projects and policy initiatives, such as multi-year programmatic partnerships and response capacity building.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
