The international humanitarian system is under severe pressure, following the outbreak of conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan. Humanitarian needs are at an all-time high in 2026 with 239 million people in need of assistance. Disastrous humanitarian situations coupled with severe funding cuts mean re-prioritising how aid is delivered. To answer the challenges ahead, the European Commission will adapt its way of working to maximise the effectiveness and impact of EU humanitarian aid around the world.
The European Union and EU countries currently provide the largest share of global humanitarian funding. The European Commission alone allocated almost €2 billion for humanitarian aid this year.
The new approach on humanitarian aid sets out concrete solutions to ensure humanitarian aid reaches people in need across the globe. The EU will:
Protect: work more closely with partners to deliver humanitarian help safely, protect aid workers, and ensure support reaches everyone, including through stronger local involvement
Perform: make humanitarian aid more efficient, so support is delivered where it is needed most and makes the best use of EU funds
Partner: team up with more organisations to help communities become more resilient, reduce long-term dependence on aid, and pool resources for greater impact
The EU will continue to provide needs-based, inclusive and non-discriminatory assistance to save lives and preserve human dignity.
For more information
- Publication date
- 27 May 2026
- Author
- Directorate-General for Communication
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