The European Union has allocated €557 million to Nigeria and other parts of West and Central Africa as part of its global humanitarian aid budget of €1.9 billion for 2026.
EU 2026 Humanitarian Aid
The EU’s humanitarian aid delivers life-saving assistance where it matters most. This includes emergency food and shelter, critical healthcare, protection for the most vulnerable, and support for children’s education in crisis zones.
Despite other donors retreating, the EU has allocated an initial €1.9 billion in global aid. The breakdown of the aid is as follows:
- €557 million to West and Central Africa, the Sahel, the Lake Chad basin, North-West Nigeria, Central Africa, Southern Africa, the Great Lakes region and the Greater Horn of Africa;
- €448 million to the Middle East, particularly Gaza, further to last year’s fragile ceasefire, as well as Iraq, Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon;
- €145 million to humanitarian needs in Ukraine, as Russia’s invasion enters its fourth year, and an additional €8 million for humanitarian projects in Moldova;
- €126 million is allocated to address humanitarian needs in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran;
- €95 million to Central and South America and the Caribbean, a region facing complex humanitarian crises driven by armed conflicts, widespread violence, political instability, acute inequalities and environmental challenges;
- €73 million will be allocated to support Southeast Asia and the Pacific, in particular for the Myanmar crisis and its impact in Bangladesh;
- €14.6 million will be allocated to North Africa, a region that remains exposed to complex political, economic and social challenges.
Additionally, more than €415 million is reserved for responding to sudden-onset emergencies worldwide. This also includes maintaining a strategic supply chain.
EU Humanitarian Strides
The EU and its Member States are the leading global humanitarian aid donor. The Commission has been providing humanitarian aid since 1992 in over 110 countries. This aid is delivered through humanitarian non-governmental organisations, international organisations (including UN agencies), and specialised agencies in the Member States.
The European Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) can help any country inside or outside the EU affected by a major disaster. This occurs upon request from the national authorities or a United Nations body.