Stories

Erwin Barreto Vazquez was 21 years old when a car crash left him paralysed from the waist down in 2005, in Maracaibo, Venezuela.

Fatima’s story is one of loss, courage, and willpower. She had to flee the war in Syria and came to Turkey in search of safety.

On 6 February, a powerful earthquake of 7.8 magnitude – one of the strongest earthquakes in the region in more than 100 years – struck the south-eastern Anatolia region of Türkiye, affecting 11 provinces in Türkiye and 6 governorates in Syria.

Najim lost one of his legs 5 years ago when an air attack hit his village in Syria.

Tabitha’s story is one of hardship and, often, despair – yet is also a tale of hope, illustrating what can be achieved when the necessary assistance is accessible.

The war raging in Ukraine since 24 February has already forced more than 12 million people to leave their homes. Zina is one of them. As she was taking shelter in Kharkiv metro station, she helped the kids hiding from the war with toys and educational materials provided by EU humanitarian aid.

On this World Humanitarian Day, we want to introduce the driving force behind EU humanitarian operations – the people.

The Russian war of aggression in Ukraine started on 24 February and has since spiralled into a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe.

EU humanitarian experts on the ground ensure that emergency assistance goes where it is most needed.

“Education and schools are very important now. It's the future of our country,” says 15-year-old Daryna.

Never have so many millions faced starvation in the Sahel (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Nigeria).

In early 2020, a category 5 cyclone, Harold, caused widespread damage on the Pacific archipelago nation of Vanuatu.

COVID-19 patients in Latvia needed ventilators to keep breathing, but access to them was limited in other EU countries as well.

In the wake of an emergency, first responders must be ready to react swiftly in aid of people affected, for example, by natural hazards.

For millions of women around the world, gender-based violence is a daily, ugly reality.

In response to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine in February, the European Commission is running its largest-ever operation under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

Russia’s war against Ukraine is causing human suffering, loss of life and displacement.

It's been more than a week of pain, loss and grief. But it has also been more than a week of extraordinary bravery, solidarity and humanity.

It is olive harvesting time in the Middle East. Unfortunately, no olive branch is being extended in Palestine.