The European Commission has confirmed a commitment of €458 million in humanitarian aid to Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt for 2026. In light of the withdrawal of major donors from the region and significant strains on international humanitarian law, the European Union aims to sustain life-saving assistance for millions of affected individuals.
“In a war-torn Middle East, the European Union is stepping up while others step back. We are now the largest donor still delivering humanitarian aid in some of the world’s most severe crises, helping people living through the darkest moments of their lives. We must stand with them. International Humanitarian Law exists to protect them, and Europe will defend it. We will continue delivering life-saving aid for as long as it is needed,” stated Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management.
In Syria, the allocation of €210 million will support critical emergency response and protection efforts throughout the country. Following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, 16.5 million individuals continue to require humanitarian assistance, including over 3.2 million returnees who are confronted with devastated infrastructure and limited livelihood opportunities. This funding will help provide food assistance, healthcare, shelter, clean water, and educational opportunities for children who are out of school.
For Palestine, €124 million is earmarked for food support, health services, protection, shelter, and education, which will be delivered by partners operating under exceptionally challenging conditions. Currently, more than 3.3 million people need assistance, with 2.1 million residing in Gaza and 1.2 million in the occupied West Bank. In Gaza, civilians are experiencing malnutrition and a collapsed healthcare system, in addition to systematic obstructions to the delivery of humanitarian aid.
In Lebanon, €100 million will be allocated to provide emergency healthcare, basic assistance for families facing severe hardship, protection services, shelter, and educational opportunities for out-of-school children. The need for assistance is critical; even before the ongoing humanitarian crisis exacerbated by developments in Iran, over 3 million individuals in Lebanon required support. In March 2026, Israeli airstrikes displaced more than 800,000 people. The European Union is actively facilitating humanitarian airbridge flights to deliver essential medical and relief supplies.
In Jordan, a total of €15.5 million will be dedicated to maintaining essential services, including health and protection, to address the needs of refugees both within and outside of camps. In Egypt, €8 million will support multi-sectoral assistance for the most vulnerable populations, including quality education for out-of-school children and a regional program focused on disaster preparedness. Egypt is currently hosting over 1.5 million refugees and asylum seekers, particularly from Sudan and Gaza.
