World: Questions and answers on the Communication on Humanitarian Aid

Country: World Source: European Commission Please refer to the attached file. Why was there a need for a new Communication on Humanitarian Aid? Since the previous Communication on Humanitarian Action, published in 2021, the international humanitarian system has been shaken to its core, due to the outbreak of armed conflict in Europe, the disastrous humanitarian situation in Gaza, Ukraine or Sudan, and severe funding cuts affecting all aspects of humanitarian work. According to the UN, 239 million people worldwide are in need of humanitarian assistance in 2026 – that is up from 31 million in 2006. The number of people forcibly displaced or seeking asylum has doubled over the past decade, reaching 117.3 million in 2025. Not only are humanitarian needs reaching catastrophic levels, but adequate funding is also not available, thus forcing the humanitarian actors to drastically prioritise. Providing assistance has also become more difficult with aid workers being attacked, civilians trapped in war zones and international humanitarian law violated with alarming frequency. In this context, the new Joint Communication sets out the EU's commitment to remain a trustworthy and reliable humanitarian partner, while adapting its way of working to maximise effectiveness and impact, and supporting the necessary changes that will make the international humanitarian system more resilient. Will the new Communication result in practical changes in the way the EU works in humanitarian aid? Yes. We are adapting to shifting realities, positioning the EU as a driver of reform. We will step up the protection of humanitarian work and international humanitarian law; improve the performance of our funding, and partner more broadly with a wider range of stakeholders, acknowledging the need for broader sol...

Original source: Relief Web