At a time when humanitarian aid needs have reached record highs and global assistance is declining, the European Commission has presented a new strategy to bolster the European Union's role. Over 239 million people require aid, a significant increase from two decades ago, while funding is at historic lows, leaving nearly half of these individuals without vital support.
The strategy focuses on enhancing efficiency, speed, and the effective delivery of aid to recipients, in collaboration with international organizations like the United Nations. Crisis management commissioner Hadja Lahbib stressed the need for an "unprecedented response" to an equally unprecedented situation.
“"The scale of humanitarian needs demands a revolution in our system. An unprecedented situation that requires an unprecedented response."
A key pillar of the strategy is protecting humanitarian access, upholding international humanitarian law, and leveraging Europe's political weight to overcome obstacles and blockades. "Humanitarian diplomacy" is set to become a central component of the EU's foreign policy, in partnership with High Representative Kaja Kallas.
The commissioner acknowledged that this approach sometimes involves dialogues with complex actors, such as the Taliban in Afghanistan or the M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The agreement with Israel to allow aid into Gaza in exchange for halting sanctions was mentioned, though the situation in the Strip remains dire.
Violence against humanitarian workers has reached alarming levels, with over 1,000 fatalities in the past three years, particularly in dangerous zones like Gaza, Sudan, South Sudan, and Ukraine. The EU has launched a program for financial and technical support, including specialized training for local workers, to mitigate these risks.
Emphasis is placed on improving coordination among organizations, the EU's external action service, and European governments to "speak with one voice" and act jointly. Furthermore, coordination aims to optimize resources, as logistics account for 60% to 80% of humanitarian spending. The Commission will advocate for joint procurement, warehousing, and transport to reduce costs and "waste," drawing on past experiences like Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica.
