The European Union and its Member States are the world's leading donor of humanitarian aid.
Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity towards people in need all around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises.
The European Commission ensures rapid and effective delivery of EU relief assistance through its two main instruments: civil protection and humanitarian aid.
The Commission, through its Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Operations (ECHO), helps over 120 million victims of conflict and disasters every year.
With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the Commission provides assistance to the most vulnerable people solely on the basis of humanitarian needs.
For funding information, please visit ECHO's website.
All Updates
Tropical cyclone ALCIDE formed over the south-west Indian Ocean on 6 November. On 7 November at 0:00 UTC, its centre was located approx. 1 100 km north of Mauritius Island, 1 230 km north-east of La Réunion and 870 km north-east of Antalaha town (Antsiranana Province, northern Madagascar), with maximum sustained winds of 93 km/h (tropical storm).
Over the next 24 hours, it is forecast to continue south-west, strengthening to Category 2 with winds up to 157 km/h, before decreasing to a tropical storm on the approach to Madagascar.
Following six months of civil unrest in Nicaragua, 52 000 Nicaraguans have settled in Costa Rica, 40 386 of which have requested international protection (mostly students and health workers) and 13 697 who have already formalised their asylum applications.
OHCHR and IACHR condemned the beating at La Esperanza prison of 17 female detainees by 70 male guards. The Nicaraguan government continues to refuse access to human rights organisations to detention centres.
According to the last Integrated Food Security Analysis Phase Classification, food insecurity in CAR remains of serious concern. 40% of the population – some 1.9 million people – are severely food insecure and in need of urgent assistance. Violence and armed conflict remain the major drivers for food insecurity in the country.
- After the US call last week for a cessation of hostilities and peace talks before the end of November, fighting has intensified. On 3 November, 200 air strikes were reported in and around Hodeidah alone. Fighting was particularly intense around the airport, to the east of the city and near a university to the west, 4 km south of the port. Some humanitarian partners have started relocating their staff to the city of Bajel, north of Hodeidah, in Hajjah governorate.
