The Council working party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA) is the main forum within the EU for strategic and policy debate on humanitarian aid between the EU Member States and the European Commission. The group meets monthly, and calls for additional emergency meetings in response to major sudden crises.
At the meetings, the European Commission's Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department (ECHO) and the EU Member States exchange information on humanitarian crisis situations and assess humanitarian needs. They also seek to improve the coherence of aid efforts at EU and global levels.
The Commission regularly provides analysis on humanitarian crises to Member States and also presents policy initiatives within COHAFA. It promotes coordination between EU and national actions to enhance efficiency and complementarity of the different humanitarian aid measures.
Picture: The European Union, Commission and Member States together, is among the leading donors of humanitarian assistance globally. © R.Lunin/PIN August 2015