Man-made humanitarian crises, resulting from wars with often widespread violations of international humanitarian law, conflicts or outbreaks of violence, are the main source of humanitarian needs in the world. EU humanitarian assistance helps millions of vulnerable people, including forcibly displaced or trapped populations, as well as host communities. The needs arising from these crises are often exacerbated by disasters caused by natural hazards, such as droughts or floods, fuelled by climate change.
EU humanitarian aid in 2023 will be allocated as follows:
- EUR 207.8 million will go to Southeast Europe and the European Neighborhood, mainly to address the consequences of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, as well as to finance projects for current needs in the Western Balkans, the Caucasus and the effects of the Syrian crisis in Turkey.
- 181.5 million will go to support those affected by conflict, insecurity, forced displacement and climatic shocks in the Sahel (Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania and Niger), the Central African Republic and the Lake Chad Basin (Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria), resulting in large-scale displacement, disruption of livelihoods and lack of access to basic services.
- 330.7 million is allocated to programs in Eastern and Southern Africa to address the needs of people affected by the long-standing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo and those displaced by climate change and armed conflict in Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda and the Horn of Africa (Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya).
- 382.2 million of EU humanitarian funding will be allocated in the Middle East and North Africa to address the current regional crisis in Yemen, Syria and its neighboring countries, as well as the critical situation of the Sahrawi refugees.
- 237 million in humanitarian aid will help the most vulnerable populations in Asia and Latin America. In Asia, funding will address the crises in Afghanistan and the Rohingya (Bangladesh and Myanmar), as well as the impact of climate change in the region. In Latin America and the Caribbean, the EU will continue to support the impact of the crisis in Venezuela, the humanitarian consequences of armed conflicts in Colombia, as well as the widespread violence in Haiti, and Central America and Mexico.
- EUR 141.5 million will be used to respond to sudden-onset emergencies in 2023.
- 122 million is set aside for unforeseen humanitarian crises that may arise during the year.
- 108.2 million will be used for horizontal activities, innovative projects and policy initiatives.
As climate change is increasing the vulnerability of communities to humanitarian crises, the funding will also help disaster-prone countries better prepare for various natural hazards, such as floods, wildfires, earthquakes and cyclones.
Context
The European Union has been providing humanitarian aid since 1992 in more than 110 countries, reaching millions of people around the world every year. EU aid is delivered through humanitarian partner organizations, such as European non-governmental humanitarian organizations, international organizations (including UN agencies) and specialized agencies of the Member States.
The EU closely monitors the use of its funds through its global network of humanitarian experts and has strict rules to ensure that funding is spent correctly.
In 2021, the European Commission has published a Communication proposing to strengthen the EU's overall humanitarian impact in order to address the substantially increased humanitarian needs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Communication proposes a number of key actions to accelerate the delivery of humanitarian aid by broadening the resource base, supporting a more enabling environment for humanitarian partners and addressing the root causes of crises through a "Team Europe" approach. It highlights a renewed focus on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and also aims to address the dramatic humanitarian impact of climate change.
