The European Commission is stepping up its support to help those most affected by the devastating effects of growing global food insecurity.

A new humanitarian aid package of €210 million will be made available to 15 countries to meet their growing needs.

This increases total EU support for global food security to €8 billion between 2020-2024.

In 2022, food insecurity has reached unprecedented levels in both scale and severity, with at least 205 million people currently experiencing acute food insecurity and in need of emergency assistance.

This is the highest level ever recorded.

Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen remain at risk of famine.

"Russia's war with Ukraine has a major effect on the world's food supply. Countries that were already vulnerable to food shocks have been put in a dramatic situation. We must act to avoid famine in some of the world's poorest areas. The EU stands behind the most vulnerable countries and today further extends its support to those in need," said EC President Ursula von der Leyen.

The Commission also presented a funding plan, according to which West and Central Africa will be supported with EUR 2 million in Burkina Faso, EUR 1 million in Mali, EUR 2 million in Niger, EUR 1 million in Chad and EUR 4 million in the Central African Republic.

These funds will provide food security assistance as well as protection, nutrition and livelihood support.

In Eastern and Southern Africa, Sudan will receive €9 million for the affected population with the provision of urgent life-saving essential services and assistance.

€6 million in South Sudan will help increase the humanitarian response to emergencies.

In Ethiopia, €10 million will go towards emergency food security, livelihood assistance, provision of food, water and sanitation.

The same amount will prioritize Somalia's most vulnerable populations. 

As for the Middle East, €35 million will provide food aid to the most vulnerable in the north and south of Yemen, for Syria the amount is €15 million and another €5 million for the basic needs of refugees and locals in Lebanon.

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Afghanistan will receive €75 million for the crisis in the region, which will be directed towards the dire food security situation affecting approximately 24 million people, as well as the needs related to the winter and natural disasters the country has recently suffered.

Latin America is also on the list with €30 million to be directed at the regional crisis in Venezuela.

These funds will meet the most urgent needs of the population both inside and outside the country (particularly in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru).

Another €5 million for the Central American Dry Corridor will help with food aid and health, water and sanitation and protection.

This amount was announced at the beginning of October 2022 during Commissioner Lenarcic's visit to the region.

In addition to the funding, the European Commission has already allocated another 175 million euros in humanitarian aid to support the most needy in Ukraine and Moldova.

Commissioner Lenarcic announced this funding during his visit to Kyiv on 19 October.

In addition, €10 million was allocated to Pakistan to respond to the floods, which had a major impact on the nutrition and livelihoods of affected communities.

The EU and its Member States are the world's leading donors of humanitarian aid.

The EU provides food aid in anticipation of, during and after a humanitarian crisis.

EU-funded humanitarian aid is delivered in partnership with UN agencies, international organizations and NGOs, covering areas of intervention such as food, shelter, health, water and sanitation and education in emergencies.

Through its humanitarian food aid, the EU aims to ensure access to safe and nutritious food for the most hungry and vulnerable people in times of crisis.

Food insecurity has followed an alarming trend over the past 5 years, mainly due to conflict, economic shocks (many related to the effects of Covid-19) and climate change.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has dramatically worsened the situation through its impact on food, energy and fertilizer prices, as well as supply chain disruptions.

humanitarian aid