Introduction
South America is exposed to multiple, often combined, natural and human-made hazards. Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of weather-related disasters, eroding the resilience of the most vulnerable communities.
The region is also confronted with one of the largest population displacements in history: more than 7 million Venezuelans have sought refuge in neighbouring countries (of which almost 2.5 million are in Colombia, around 1.5 million in Peru and around 500,000 in Ecuador, Chile and Brazil, respectively). Many other nationalities transit across the continent, victims of multiple displacements.
almost 8 million Venezuelanshave fled Venezuela since 2016, 7 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants remain across the region to date
What are the needs?
Since the socio-economic crisis began in Venezuela in 2016, almost 8 million Venezuelans have fled of which approximately 7 million have sought refuge in Latin American nations. In addition, an increase in violence and social unrest in several countries in the region is resulting in new mixed migration flows.
Protection
Refugees and forced migrants are exposed to protection risks and have overstretched local coping capacities. Across the region, the socio-economic situation and restrictive migration measures are triggering risky circular movements and hamper integration efforts.
The humanitarian consequences of violence and armed conflict are also soaring. The Colombian armed conflict is spreading into neighbouring countries, fuelled by narcotrafficking and illegal extractive economies. This has devastating consequences in Ecuador: once the continent’s safe haven Ecuador is now among the countries with the highest rates of homicides worldwide, and almost 100,000 people have been displaced internally due to the violence. Organised crime also affects vulnerable people along the borders of Peru, Boliva, Chile, Brazil and Venezuela.
When disasters and violence strike, the greatest needs are:
- protection
- shelter
- food and relief items
- access to safe water and proper sanitation,
- education
- primary healthcare
How are we helping?
For 2026, the initial regional allocation for South American countries except Venezuela and Colombia is €16.3 million, including € 10 M to allocate on actions related to disaster preparedness.
All EU-funded humanitarian projects aim to guarantee access to food and water, effective protection, education and medical care, among other actions. We pay particular attention to the impact of climate-related disasters, conflict and violence against the indigenous populations in the region.
Disaster preparedness
Since 1994, the EU has more than €150 million to disaster preparedness projects in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela, fostering resilience at community level and supporting national systems. The EU has also contributed to strengthening the regional disaster preparedness strategies in South America, paving the way for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on integrated disaster risk management between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in May 2024.
The EU disaster preparedness funding supports initiatives aimed at strengthening the capacity of national and local institutions as well as communities in coping with disasters, violence and crises
indicatively by:
- supporting local disaster response committees in drafting emergency plans
- setting up early warning systems
- developing information and education campaigns
- reinforcing vital infrastructure (shelters, schools and hospitals)
- protecting livelihoods
- promoting coordination among those responsible for anticipating disasters or reacting to them
South America has also received emergency support in the aftermath of disasters via the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism.
In 2017, 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2026, the EU also deployed experts and firefighters under the Mechanism to help Chile, Guatemala and Bolivia fight some of the worst forest fires recorded on the continent. In 2025, a team of experts was also deployed to Ecuador to support the response to the oil spill that affected the Esmeraldas province. In January 2026, a Spanish team of forest fires experts was deployed to Chile.
In 2025, emergency funds were also mobilised for floods in Argentina, Bolivia, Honduras, Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador, as well as for wildfires in Bolivia and earthquakes in Guatemala.
The EU-LAC Memorandum of Understanding on disaster risk management has established as a new framework for cooperation between the European Union and the LAC region. This agreement focuses on disaster preparedness and risk management and became effective in May 2024. 3 Regional disaster management agencies and 3 individual countries not belonging to any DRM regional organisation have signed the agreement.
Last updated: 27/01/2026