May 15, 2025
(press release)
–
The European Commission will provide €120 million in humanitarian aid to several Latin American and Caribbean countries this year to help the region's most vulnerable, in view of the recent natural disasters and armed conflicts. Part of this aid will also bolster disaster preparedness, vital due to the region's exposure to natural hazards.
In Venezuela, €38 million will be provided to humanitarian organisations. This funding targets the ongoing crisis in the country, focusing on protecting vulnerable groups, health, nutrition, and education.
In Colombia, €21 million will support people displaced by armed conflicts and to address migration impacts in border areas with Venezuela. Key areas of assistance include food security, livelihoods, water, sanitation, health, and education.
A further €10 million is allocated regionally in South America to aid those forcibly displaced and at risk. Ecuador, for instance, will receive €2 million to support those affected by rising violence.
In Central America, €10 million targets those affected by violence and food insecurity, with another €10.1 million for disaster preparedness.
In the Caribbean, Haiti gets over €18 million to tackle the humanitarian crisis from escalating gang violence. Other Caribbean nations will receive over €8.5 million, primarily for disaster preparedness.
Background
The announcement comes on the first anniversary of the Memorandum of Understanding on disaster risk managementMemorandum of Understanding on integrated disaster risk management between the European Union and Latin American and the Caribbean What is the objective of the MoU? The MoU aims at promoting collaboration to strengthen disaster risk management in Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union. The MoU promotes international cooperation activities to strengthen the following areas: · disaster risk prevention, · vulnerability reduction, · preparedness for a timely and appropriate response, · early post-disaster recovery, · resilience building, · and climate change adaptation. It is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and contributes to fulfilling the targets of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 in the Americas and the Caribbean. Who has signed the MoU? The MoU was signed on 15 May 2024 by: • The European Union • 3 intergovernmental organisations: the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Coordination Center for the Prevention of Disasters in Central America and Dominican Republic (CEPREDNAC),·the General Secretariat of the Andean Community (SGCAN). · 3 countries: Cuba, Chile, and Mexico. · 2 witnesses of honour: the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). What are the main areas of cooperation? The 3 main areas of cooperation include: 1. Strengthening response capacities; 2. Strengthening prevention, preparedness, response and early recovery capacities; 3. Exchanging knowledge, experiences and good practices. What is its legal status, financial commitment and duration? The MoU does not contain any legally binding obligations under national or international law and neither does it not contain any financial commitments, as each MoU signatory is expected to bear its own expenses related to its cooperation. In addition, the MoU does not contain a specific end date, but instead will remain in force until its objectives are achieved. How will the work of the MoU be coordinated and carried out? The work will be coordinated by a governing Secretariat, comprising two permanent members (EU, UNDRR) and two rotating members, comprising one individual country and one intergovernmental organisation that are selected on an alphabetical basis (currently Chile and CDEMA). Closely with the other participants, the Secretariat has coordinated and finalised an annual action plan to implement the activities of the MoU. In addition, the MoU signatories meet on a regular basis to discuss, among others, implementation of the action plan, communication and upcoming events or activities. between the EU and Latin American and the Caribbean, signed in Barbados a year ago to increase cooperation in this area.
This agreement brought together the European Union and the Latin American andCaribbean region, represented by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Coordination Centre for the Prevention of Disasters in Central America and Dominican Republic (CEPREDENAC), and the General Secretariat of the Andean Community (SGCAN), as well Chile, Cuba and Mexico. The memorandum of understanding is a key deliverable of the EU-CELAC Summit in 2023 and it supports both regions in the implementation of the UN Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction.
EU humanitarian aid in Colombia
EU humanitarian aid in South America
EU humanitarian aid in Central America and Mexico
EU humanitarian aid in Haiti
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