News

As families across Nepal face the human toll of one of the country’s deadliest floods in decades, the EU is adding to the relief effort led by Nepalese authorities and humanitarian partners. A first EU humanitarian air bridge flight has delivered 82 tonnes of essential supplies.

'This summer has shown once again how much Europe relies on you. The wildfire season started exceptionally early in late April and put national services under enormous pressure.'

EU firefighting support to Serbia has been extended until 5 September, with 4 helicopters from the rescEU strategic reserve in Czechia, Romania and Slovakia and a ground firefighting team from Romania remaining deployed, as severe wildfires continue and strong winds are forecast in affected areas.

This emergency funding will help address immediate needs including as food, healthcare, clean water and sanitation. EU-funded partners are providing help on the ground. This assistance comes in addition to the almost €3 million in humanitarian aid allocated at the start of the year for Nepal.

In the Hautes Fagnes and around Monschau, she will meet local and national authorities, first responders, visit communities affected by the fires, and see first-hand the impact of the fires and response on the ground.

In response to the worsening situation the EU mobilised 4 helicopters from the strategic reserve of the rescEU fleet based in Czechia, Romania and Slovakia, as well as ground firefighting teams from Germany and Romania.

Ahead of World Humanitarian Day on 19 August, Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, and Hadja Lahbib Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, issued the following statement.

To support Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic and Chad in addressing the ongoing cholera epidemic. According to the World Health Organization, more than 61,000 cholera cases were reported in the African Region in the first 5 months of 2026.

The EU has deployed assistance to Belgium and Spain following their activation of the EU civil protection mechanism (UCPM), as wildfires continue to affect several parts of Europe.

The civil protection assistance complements the €2.1 million in emergency humanitarian funding announced by the EU on 12 August. EU humanitarian partners are providing health, water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance, as well as shelter, food, protection and cash support to affected communities.

EU humanitarian partners will, thanks to the new funding, provide life-saving assistance for people affected by conflict, displacement and disasters, including recent flash floods in several locations across the country.

The European Commission is reacting on the immediate needs of communities in Columbia and is providing €2.1 million in life-saving assistance. Several provinces and cities in the central and western part of the country have been affected by a devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake.

Today, Hadja Lahbib is visiting Gironde, one of the areas in France most affected by raging wildfires, to express the European Union's solidarity, meeting with French authorities and first responders to thank them for their tireless efforts and witness first-hand the ongoing emergency response.

The Convention has had a profound global impact in safeguarding millions of lives, guiding international action, and upholding the fundamental principle that people fleeing persecution must be treated with dignity and protected in accordance with international law.

In France, the EU has deployed 7 planes and 4 helicopters from Czechia, Croatia, Germany, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden, and Türkiye. In Spain, the EU has mobilised 6 planes from Greece, Italy and Türkiye, and deployed 134 personnel and 41 vehicles from Portugal.

The aid will prioritise healthcare, including procuring medicines and supporting primary and maternal healthcare facilities; emergency food assistance and nutrition treatment for children and mothers.

Today's announcement add to the €5 million life-saving assistance already approved at the end of June, and to the €52 million allocated at the beginning of the year to respond to the humanitarian consequences of the socio-economic crisis in Venezuela.

As Europe is fighting wildfires in several Member States, the Commission is swiftly mobilising assistance via the EU civil protection mechanism. France and Portugal have activated the mechanism.

In response to the increasing humanitarian needs caused by the recent earthquakes in Venezuela, the European Union is releasing €5 million in humanitarian aid to provide immediate help to the most affected communities. It will focus on providing shelter and healthcare to those affected.