The European Union has unveiled a humanitarian aid package worth €1.9 billion for 2025, with a significant portion of €510 million dedicated to supporting vulnerable populations in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African countries.
The European Commission announced the allocation in a statement released on Thursday, stating, “These funds are set to be channelled across West and Central Africa, the Sahel, the Lake Chad basin, North-West Nigeria,
Central Africa, the Great Lakes region and the Greater Horn of Africa.”
The EU emphasized that its humanitarian aid will play a crucial role in addressing the escalating humanitarian crises that are expected to impact over 300 million people globally in 2025.
Hadja Lahbib, the EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness, and Crisis Management, emphasized the importance of guaranteeing that vulnerable populations receive aid safely and without restrictions.
She also highlighted that funding is not enough on its own; it’s equally important to follow international humanitarian law.
Lahbib said: “With more than 300 million people needing humanitarian assistance in 2025, the EU is upholding its commitment to help those most in need as a leading humanitarian aid donor.
“Our humanitarian aid funding will support our partners on the ground: the UN family, the Red Cross/Red Crescent family, international and local government and non-governmental organisations to provide life-saving,
emergency assistance where needed.”
Additionally, the statement noted that the Middle East and North Africa will receive €470m, with €375m focused on the Middle East, particularly Gaza, while €95m is allocated to North Africa and Yemen.
Ukraine is set to receive a significant boost with a €140 million allocation, as the country enters its third year of war.
Neighbouring Moldova will receive €8 million for humanitarian projects, providing much-needed support to those affected by the conflict.
The EU also allocated €113 million in humanitarian aid to support Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on crisis-affected areas in Venezuela, Colombia, Haiti, and other conflict zones.
It further allocated €182 million in humanitarian aid to Asia and the Pacific, focusing on the Myanmar crisis, its impact on Bangladesh, and the situation in Afghanistan.
An additional €40 million will be shared among Southern Africa, the Indian Ocean region, the Southern Caucasus, and Central Asia to address humanitarian needs in these regions.
“For Africa, a total of €510 million will support vulnerable people across the continent.
“Aid will be channelled in West and Central Africa, the Sahel, the Lake Chad basin, North-West Nigeria, Central Africa, the Great Lakes region and the Greater Horn of Africa,” the statement added.
Furthermore, the EU has retained €295m for emergency responses to unforeseen crises and €110m for innovative projects and capacity-building initiatives.
Since 1992, the European Commission has delivered humanitarian aid to more than 110 countries, delivering aid through partnerships with UN agencies, the Red Cross/Red Crescent, and
international and local organizations.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the EU has committed over $140 billion in financial, military, humanitarian, and refugee assistance.
In 2018, the EU funded humanitarian aid operations for over €1.8 billion in more than 90 countries while in 2020, the Union’s humanitarian efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic totaled €450 million.
EU’s 2024 humanitarian aid package includes two key allocations: €26 million in humanitarian funding for Türkiye, and a new aid package for Gaza worth €120 million.
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