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Humanitarian aid in a time of polycrisis – reaffirming our principles for a more effective and ambitious response to humanitarian crises

TA-10-2026-0005 · P10_TA(2026)0005 · PE774.273

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Parliament's resolution on humanitarian aid in a time of polycrisis reaffirms the EU's commitment to humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law, and calls for more effective and ambitious responses to crises. It demands respect for IHL, protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, and unhindered humanitarian access, including in Gaza, Sudan, DRC, Ukraine and Afghanistan. It calls for increased and predictable EU humanitarian funding, separate budget lines, and a focus on forgotten crises, children, and gender equality. It urges an integrated approach to fragility, localisation of aid, anticipatory action, and the full implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

Key points

  1. Calls on the EU to uphold humanitarian principles and promote IHL, including universal access to sexual and reproductive health services.
  2. Condemns attacks on civilians, humanitarian workers and medical facilities; calls for accountability and possible sanctions against those obstructing humanitarian access.
  3. Calls for strengthened monitoring of IHL violations and support for mechanisms to report on humanitarian access challenges.
  4. Demands protection of humanitarian workers, including local staff, and rapid response mechanisms for those facing security incidents.
  5. Calls for a protective legal framework to address criminalisation of aid and humanitarian exemptions in sanction regimes.
  6. Urges increased humanitarian aid to Sudan and DRC, and demands unhindered access and protection of civilians there.
  7. Demands unimpeded humanitarian access in Gaza, full reinstatement of UNRWA's mandate and funding, and accountability for violations.
  8. Calls for maintaining and stepping up EU humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, focusing on internally displaced persons, refugees, elderly and children.
  9. Calls for an EU humanitarian diplomacy strategy to secure access and protect humanitarian space, involving the EEAS and EUSRs.
  10. Calls for increased humanitarian funding in the next MFF, with ring-fenced flexibility, and opposes merging the Humanitarian Aid Instrument with NDICI-Global Europe.
  11. Calls for 15% of initial annual humanitarian budget to forgotten crises, and for dedicated funding for children's needs.
  12. Calls for at least 25% of humanitarian funding to local actors by 2027, and for 5% of ODA in fragile contexts to women-led organisations.

Who is affected

  • Humanitarian workers and organisations, including local staff, face increased risks and need better protection and support.
  • Civilians in conflict zones, especially in Gaza, Sudan, DRC, Ukraine and Afghanistan, are affected by calls for increased aid and access.
  • Women and girls, including women-led organisations, are targeted for increased funding and protection, especially in fragile contexts.
  • Children and persons with disabilities are highlighted as needing dedicated funding and programming in humanitarian responses.

Figures and deadlines

  • 305 million people estimated to require urgent humanitarian assistance in 2025.
  • Over 319 million people face acute food insecurity worldwide.
  • Over 122 million people are forcibly displaced globally.
  • Only 43% of the USD 50 billion UN appeal for humanitarian aid was met in 2024.
  • 13% of funding required for the 2025 UN appeal was reached by July 2025.
  • Over 473 million children live in areas affected by conflict.
  • Over 23.7 million people in need of assistance in Afghanistan.
  • EUR 266 million pledged by the EU for Afghanistan.

Legal basis: Articles 208 and 214 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), and Articles 3(5) and 21 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).