The European Union has announced an initial humanitarian budget of €1.87 billion for 2025, targeting urgent crises worldwide. The European Commission clarified that the aid will focus on regions such as the Middle East, including Gaza and Syria, as well as Ukraine, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Asia-Pacific. Additionally, the EU has allocated an extra €148 million in humanitarian aid for Ukraine and Moldova.
Of this, €140 million is dedicated to emergency assistance in Ukraine, providing essentials such as food, shelter, clean water, healthcare, and winter protection. The remaining €8 million will support Ukrainian refugees and host communities in Moldova, focusing on cash assistance, healthcare, education access, and psychosocial support, as outlined by the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Department.
The EU has been providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine since 2014 and has significantly increased its efforts since the full-scale invasion by Russia in February 2022. To date, over €1.1 billion has been allocated to address the needs of approximately 12.7 million people in Ukraine. This includes food, water, healthcare, and winter supplies, as detailed by the EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.
In addition to financial support, the EU has coordinated its largest-ever operation under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, delivering over 150,000 tonnes of in-kind assistance to Ukraine. This includes medical supplies, shelter materials, vehicles, and energy equipment. The EU has also deployed resources from its rescEU stockpiles, including power generators, temporary shelters, and water treatment stations to aid Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. This substantial commitment underscores the European Union’s dedication to addressing global humanitarian crises, offering essential support to vulnerable populations affected by conflicts and natural disasters worldwide. – By MENA Newswire News Desk.