EU unlocks humanitarian aid for crises worldwide

The European Commission said it will release just over €710 million to support humanitarian responses for people affected by conflicts, disasters and other crises worldwide, with a significant share aimed at sub-Saharan Africa. President Ursula von der Leyen announced the package on her X account after she did not attend New York’s Global Citizen Festival, where she had been scheduled to speak. The funding plan assigns €380 million to migration-related measures in sub-Saharan Africa, emphasising protection for vulnerable migrants as well as support for voluntary return and reintegration. Separately, €97 million is earmarked to address escalating humanitarian needs across the region tied to conflict, food insecurity, malnutrition and climate shocks. Targeted allocations include €7.5 million to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to support the Ebola response and preparedness, and €10 million to back efforts to promote peace and stability in the Great Lakes region. The package also designates €103 million for the Palestinian territories and Lebanon to assist vulnerable populations, and €52 million for humanitarian assistance and emergency preparedness in Ukraine. In addition to direct aid, the commission announced three Global Gateway investments highlighted at last week’s UN General Assembly, including an EU guarantee to mobilise private investment in health and nutrition businesses in sub-Saharan Africa, an EIB-backed loan to expand vaccine and biological medicines production in Colombia, and €60 million to strengthen primary healthcare in Ethiopia. The commission noted it had allocated €2.5 million for humanitarian aid since the start of the year.