Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The EU has allocated €122 million for humanitarian aid in the Greater Horn of Africa.
How Will the EU’s Additional €122 Million Aid Help the Greater Horn of Africa?
The EU has discharged an additional €122 million for humanitarian assistance in the Greater Horn of Africa, as the region persists to face the impact of conflicts and climate-related disasters such as drought and downpours. The funding will help manage the most urgent needs of vulnerable populations, notably with food and nutrition aid, but also with other services to meet basic needs, such as water and sanitation in locations at high risk of disease attacks. In certain, the funding will be dedicated to allies working in Ethiopia (€42 million), Somalia (€40 million) and South Sudan (€40 million).
This additional allocation brings the total EU aid to the Greater Horn of Africa to more than €421 million so far this year, including support of over €56 million mobilised in April in reaction to the consequences of the crisis in Sudan.
The Greater Horn of Africa persists in facing complex and widespread humanitarian crises, primarily driven by conflicts and natural shocks made more sinister by climate change. Over 70 million people are in primary need of humanitarian assistance.
Why Is Ethiopia Receiving €42 Million of EU Aid for Urgent Humanitarian Assistance?
In Ethiopia, the humanitarian crisis remains dire. It is calculated that there are more than 10 million people who are critically food insecure during the current wasted season (which lasts between July and September). Around 4.5 million people are internally displaced across the country. At the same time, the land hosts more than one million refugees, including recent arrivals from Sudan. In similar, and sometimes in the same locations as other problems, there are episodes of infectious diseases such as malaria, cholera and measles.
What Impact Will EU Funding Have on Food and Nutrition in Somalia?
Somalia remains one of the most significant humanitarian crises in the world, with close to 7 million people in deficiency of life-saving assistance. While still healing from a historic drought, the country was harshly hit by above-average rainfall and flooding during the 2023 and 2024 rainy seasons, causing thousands of people to be displaced and beginning cholera outbreaks in new locations. A projected La Niña influence and dry spells later in the year will likely have worrying results for the already serious food insecurity situation in the nation.
How Is South Sudan Coping with Economic and Humanitarian Challenges Amid New EU Aid?
Finally, South Sudan is undergoing a sharp economic crisis this year, while the battle in neighbouring Sudan is also growing displacement and the vulnerability of the population. At least 80,000 people are predicted to be in famine-like conditions this summer. The possibility of new floods as of September is worrying, particularly for areas that have not yet recovered from the earlier four consecutive years of overflows.
