The European Union has announced a significant boost to humanitarian aid in the Greater Horn of Africa, injecting €122 million to address the escalating crises in the region. For those viewing this commitment in US dollars, this amounts to approximately $130 million dollars, based on current exchange rates, aimed at alleviating the suffering caused by ongoing conflicts and devastating climate-related disasters like severe droughts and floods. This crucial funding will prioritize the most urgent needs of vulnerable populations, focusing on food and nutrition assistance, alongside essential services such as clean water and sanitation, particularly in areas facing high risks of disease outbreaks.
This substantial financial aid package will be channeled through partner organizations working directly in the countries most affected: Ethiopia will receive €42 million, Somalia is allocated €40 million, and South Sudan will also receive €40 million.
This new allocation elevates the total EU humanitarian assistance to the Greater Horn of Africa to over €421 million in the current year alone. This figure includes a previous reinforcement of over €56 million mobilized in April to address the spillover effects of the crisis in Sudan, demonstrating the EU’s continued and growing commitment to the region.
The Greater Horn of Africa is currently grappling with complex and widespread humanitarian crises, largely fueled by persistent conflicts and natural disasters that are increasingly exacerbated by climate change. Alarmingly, over 70 million people across the region are in dire need of humanitarian assistance to survive.
Crisis Breakdown: Country by Country
Ethiopia: A Nation Under Strain
In Ethiopia, the humanitarian situation remains critical. Current estimates indicate that over 10 million people are facing severe food insecurity during the lean season, spanning from July to September. Compounding this issue, over 4.5 million people are internally displaced within Ethiopia. The nation is also hosting over one million refugees, including a recent influx from neighboring Sudan, further straining resources. Simultaneously, outbreaks of infectious diseases such as malaria, cholera, and measles are occurring, sometimes in the very locations already struggling with other crises, creating a multi-layered emergency.
Somalia: Battling Drought and Deluge
Somalia continues to be one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with nearly 7 million people requiring life-saving assistance. While still struggling to recover from a historic drought, Somalia has been hit hard by unusually heavy rainfall and flooding during both the 2023 and 2024 rainy seasons. These floods have displaced thousands and triggered cholera outbreaks in previously unaffected areas. Looking ahead, predictions of a La Niña effect and subsequent dry spells later in the year raise serious concerns about the already precarious food security situation in the country, threatening to worsen conditions further.
South Sudan: Economic Hardship and Conflict Spillovers
South Sudan is facing a significant economic crisis this year. The ongoing conflict in Sudan is also exacerbating displacement and increasing the vulnerability of the population within South Sudan’s borders. It is projected that at least 80,000 people will be living in famine-like conditions this summer. The looming threat of new floods starting in September is particularly worrying, especially for communities that have not yet recovered from the devastating impact of four consecutive years of flooding, leaving them exceptionally vulnerable.
EU’s Commitment to Action
Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis Management, stated, “As humanitarian needs continue to grow in the Horn of Africa, so are we increasing our humanitarian aid to this region, one of the most vulnerable in the world. This additional funding of €122 million, equivalent to a significant sum in dollars, will bolster the scale-up of life-saving assistance to people in Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan. The EU’s aid will address critical food insecurity levels, meet the diverse needs of affected communities, help contain infectious disease spread, and support displaced people, newly arrived refugees, and host communities, including those fleeing the conflict in Sudan.“
This additional $130 million dollar equivalent in aid from the EU underscores the international community’s recognition of the dire situation in the Greater Horn of Africa and the urgent need for sustained and increased humanitarian support to help the millions of people affected by these overlapping crises.
