Stories

A year ago, this maternity hospital in Chernihiv, northern Ukraine, was surrounded by Russian forces. But despite the shelling, the maternity ward did not stop its operations for a single day.

Due to the increasing humanitarian needs resulting from the unprecedented drought in the Horn of Africa, coupled with entrenched insecurity in Somalia, the EU launched a series of Humanitarian Air Bridge flights to the country.

The EU is stepping up emergency support to deliver aid to vulnerable populations in areas where access is severely limited.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least half of the people in the world do not have access to essential health care. Moreover, 344 million people are going deeper into extreme poverty each year because they cannot afford the health fees.

Violence has intensified, especially in remote and isolated areas, and displacement persists.

Colombia continues to be hostage to a nearly 6-decade internal conflict. In 2016, the government signed a peace agreement with the largest guerrilla group, the FARC.

Health workers are being systematically targeted, leaving conflict-affected and isolated areas even more vulnerable.

For almost 60 years, civilians in Colombia have been suffering the consequences of a conflict affecting large portions of the country.

Despite the challenges posed by a 6-decade economic embargo imposed by the United States, Cuba has built a strong healthcare system.

The EU works with several humanitarian partners throughout the north of Central America, where gang violence is so blind and widespread that it resembles a conflict.

“We’ve lost everything. But one day, we will return home.” These words are most often heard in conversations with senior Ukrainians who have been suffering from the Russian invasion since February 2022.

Since November 2020, the conflict in northern Ethiopia has caused massive displacement not only in Tigray, but also in the neighbouring regions of Afar and Amhara.

The EU is supporting the COVID-19 vaccination in Sierra Leone and Liberia, including the most isolated areas.

A warm gust of wind kicks up a cloud of sand as children play outside the flimsy makeshift dwellings that make up Dadaab, one of the world’s largest refugee camps.

Last year, torrential rains flooded the desert, wiping entire villages off the map. The downpours drowned livestock, devastated precious crops and 14 people lost their lives. A year later, the country faces a new challenging lean season. EU humanitarian aid is there to assist the most vulnerable.

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Bangladesh continues to be a safe haven for over 900,000 Rohingya refugees.

Discovered in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Ebola virus disease is today well known to Guinea, further West on the African continent.

On 14 August 2021, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit south-western Haiti, destroying many homes and damaging vital infrastructure.