The European Union has set up a 900 million euro ($998 million) budget to aid countries knocked by humanitarian crises, with Africa getting the largest share of the money. The EU Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, claimed that in 2020 people in more than 80 countries will benefit from the money. Some 400 million euros ($444 million) will go to programs developed in Africa, while 345 million euros ($383 million) have been awarded to address calamity in the Middle East. A further 111 million euros ($123 million) will be dedicated to programs in Asia and Latin America. 

Janez Lenarčič, the EU commissioner for crisis management further announced, “Even though conflict remains the main cause of hunger and displacement, its impact has become seriously worsened by climate change. Europe has a responsibility to show solidarity and support for those in need. Our assistance depends on full humanitarian access so aid organizations can do their lifesaving job”. 

The EU declared that with the help of 2020 EU aid will subsidize people suffering from the long-term conflict in Congo and malnutrition in the Sahel region, as well as those displaced by violence in South Sudan, Central African Republic and the Lake Chad basin.