EU Pledges Over €710 Million in Global Humanitarian Aid to Address Crises in Africa and Beyond

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on September 22, 2026.

The European Union has announced a pledge of more than 710 million euros ($810m) aimed at assisting populations impacted by global crises, natural disasters, and conflicts, with a primary focus on Africa. The announcement was made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen via a post on her X account on Saturday, following the cancellation of New York’s Global Citizen Festival, where she had been scheduled to speak.

"Conflicts, extreme weather events and rising living costs are throwing the lives of many people around the world into disarray," she stated in a video message. The aid "will support displaced communities across Africa, as well as the communities that host them," von der Leyen added.

According to an official European Commission press release issued on Saturday, the funding package designates 380 million euros ($430m) toward migration-related measures in sub-Saharan Africa, concentrating on the protection of vulnerable migrants alongside support for voluntary returns and reintegration. An additional 97 million euros ($110m) is allocated to sub-Saharan Africa to address escalating humanitarian needs driven by conflict, food insecurity, malnutrition, and climate shocks across multiple regions, while also strengthening the response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries.

Furthermore, 7.5 million euros ($8.5m) will be directed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to bolster the Ebola response and enhance future preparedness, while 10 million euros ($11.5m) is designated to support ongoing peace and stability initiatives in the Great Lakes region, which faces severe armed conflict, humanitarian crises, and environmental shifts.

The Palestinian territories and Lebanon are set to receive 103 million euros ($117m) to aid vulnerable populations, and Ukraine will obtain 52 million euros ($59m) dedicated to humanitarian assistance and emergency preparedness.

During the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York last week, the European Commission also unveiled three new Global Gateway investments. This package featured an EU guarantee aimed at mobilizing private investment for health and nutrition enterprises in sub-Saharan Africa, an EU-backed European Investment Bank loan focused on expanding vaccine and biological medicines manufacturing in Colombia, and 60 million euros ($68m) dedicated to enhancing primary healthcare in Ethiopia. The European Commission noted that it has allocated 2.5 million euros ($3m) for humanitarian aid since the beginning of the year.