The European Commission has announced a €235 million humanitarian aid package to address worsening crises across West and Central Africa, where conflict, hunger, displacement, and climate-related shocks continue to impact millions.
The funding is aimed at supporting vulnerable populations affected by armed violence, food insecurity, and limited access to essential services. A significant share—€75 million—has been allocated to the Central Sahel, widely seen as the epicentre of instability in the region.
Breakdowns of the package include more than €72 million for Chad, €33 million for Nigeria, €22 million for the Central African Republic, €16.6 million for Cameroon, €4.8 million for Mauritania, and over €6 million for coastal West African countries. An additional €6.4 million has been set aside for region-wide humanitarian initiatives.
Announcing the intervention, Hadja Lahbib described the situation as a convergence of multiple emergencies, driven by conflict, poverty, hunger, and climate pressures.
She said the funding would provide life-saving assistance, including food, clean water, healthcare, shelter, and education support for children affected by displacement and violence. Lahbib also referenced her recent visit to Chad, where she encountered families displaced by ongoing crises.
The humanitarian situation across the region remains severe, with conflicts in the Central Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin continuing to spill across borders, worsening instability in neighbouring coastal states and driving mass displacement. The crisis in Sudan has further strained resources in eastern Chad, while separate emergencies persist in parts of Nigeria, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic.
The European Union reaffirmed its commitment to sustained humanitarian engagement, stating that the intervention is intended not only to save lives but also to restore dignity and hope to affected communities.
