By Akanksha Das
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
Introduction
That is what Martin Luther King Jr. once asked. Years have passed since that moment, yet this question remains relevant today as humanitarian aid has become essential in reducing suffering during crises and providing resources like food, shelter, and medical care to those in need. Yet, despite this urgency, it remains debated among politicians. While the United States and the European Union have long been among the world’s top aid donors, recent US rhetoric and policy changes have threatened their standing on the list, and their international reputation for development leadership more generally.
The US Pullback: A Threat to Global Humanitarian Stability
At the start of the year, President Trump’s executive order to freeze most US foreign aid for three months, and his plans to defund the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), now absorbed into the Department of State, were criticised by many, with the international community fearing that these measures will set back crisis relief efforts tremendously. UN humanitarians see this withdrawal as highly consequential, as the US previously funded around 47% of global humanitarian efforts. Despite statements from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, emphasising the organisation’s commitment to humanitarian work, disruptions have already begun, with the UN Population Fund suspending its US-funded services in regions like South Asia. This loss of access to essential care could lead to over 1200 more maternal deaths in Afghanistan alone in the next three years.
Such a shift in US humanitarian policy under the Trump administration reflects a broader trend of decreasing American engagement in multilateral cooperation, raising doubts about how reliable the traditional aid giants are. The moral authority that once accompanied American global leadership is being tested and is weakening in the face of growing support for domestic isolationism.
Europe’s Humanitarian Stand
In contrast, the European Union has reinforced its commitment to global humanitarian assistance by announcing an initial humanitarian aid budget of 1.9 billion euros for 2025 at the start of the year. This budget aims to address the critical needs of over 300 million people around the world who are expected to require aid within this current year.
This EU fund will strategically target various regions facing ongoing crises. Firstly, the largest portion of the budget, 510 million euros, is designated for various African regions, including West and Central Africa, the Sahel, and the Lake Chad Basin. Its goal is to address chronic issues within those regions, such as conflict and violence, climate change impacts, food insecurity and malnutrition, displacement, and disease outbreaks.
Additionally, 470 million euros have been allocated for the Middle East and North Africa, mainly to address the conflicts in Gaza, Syria, Yemen, and Sudan. This region hosts 15.6 million refugees and 16.2 million internally displaced persons. The region also hosts some of the largest numbers of displaced people in the world. As a result, it becomes highly vulnerable to violence, exploitation, and trafficking, affecting marginalised populations, women, and children more intensely. This budget also takes into consideration the impact of climate-related disasters like droughts, floods, and other extreme weather conditions.
Europe also faces its own crises, too. In response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, 140 million euros have been allocated to the country, while Moldova will receive 8 million euros to support refugees fleeing the neighbouring conflict. As of early 2025, around 12.7 million people in Ukraine needed urgent assistance as the conflict has led to 3.7 million people being displaced internally and 6.7 million refugees seeking safety beyond Ukraine’s borders, mostly remaining within the EU.
Across the Atlantic Ocean, Latin America and the Caribbean will be receiving 113 million euros; namely to respond to the Venezuela crisis, the armed conflicts in Colombia, the crisis in Haiti, and the violence in Central America, Mexico, and Ecuador. The general instability in this area creates many victims of violence and displacement. Meanwhile, this region also suffers from an increasing number of climate-related disasters due to its proximity to the equator and exposure to tropical storms. Natural disasters, along with the economic instability in the region, also generate food insecurity, affecting over 267 million people.
Finally, 182 million euros will be directed toward Asia and the Pacific to address the Myanmar Crisis, its impact on neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, and the issue of human rights violations in Afghanistan. Part of this fund will also be reserved for natural disasters, as the region is known to be highly vulnerable to environmental hazards due to the active movement of tectonic plates in areas like the Circum-Pacific Belt, also known as the “Ring of Fire”. The EU plans to focus on several key areas, like food assistance through emergency nutrition aid, including programs for children and pregnant women. This will include cash-based interventions to improve food access.
Healthcare support is another area of focus, as the EU funds will be used to deliver essential medical services and supplies, support primary healthcare facilities in crisis zones responding to disease outbreaks, and provide mental health and psychosocial support for those affected by heavy trauma. To avoid and contain healthcare crises, the European bloc plans to work on improving access to clean water, constructing sanitation facilities, and promoting hygiene practices to prevent the previously mentioned disease outbreaks. For example, in January, it was announced that Uganda saw the emergence of an outbreak of the Sudan Ebola virus, leading to fourteen reported cases and four deaths. Multiple districts in Uganda, including its capital, have been assessed as being at “very high risk”. As there is no current FDA-licensed vaccine to prevent it, nor is there proper treatment available, this disease, with a mortality rate of approximately 50%, could prove to be extremely challenging for authorities.
Funding will also account for providing shelter and essential non-food items to people. The EU also plans to set in place programs such as winterisation measures in cold climates, security and legal assistance for vulnerable populations, and temporary education in crisis-affected areas.
Finally, cash-based assistance will also be available on a case-by-case basis for the crisis and its affected people. A portion of this is also reserved for emergency cases that have not been accounted for in the reasons above.
Despite this significant step, concerns about funding gaps persist, as needs often outpace the resources available. Adding to this concern, it is also challenging to ensure safe access to resources for people in need in more dangerous, crisis-affected areas; if people cannot access the aid, then the delivery methods must be re-evaluated.
Conclusion
Looking ahead, the EU humanitarian plan’s success will depend on the efficacy of its implementation. Promises are not necessarily synonymous with impact. This moment may also mark the beginning of a power shift in humanitarian leadership. With the US stepping back, the EU has an opportunity and a responsibility to step up.
With ongoing conflicts, the growing effects of climate change, and the lasting impact of global health crises, humanitarian assistance remains as important as ever. The EU’s 2025 aid plan is not only essential for millions of people in need, but also a reminder of the importance of global solidarity in addressing international challenges. This is what Dr. King’s quote called for —this type of assistance is done in the hopes that a day will come when it will no longer be needed, a day when that quote will cease to be as relevant as before.
About the author
Akanksha Das is pursuing dual bachelor’s degrees at Sciences Po Paris and UC Berkeley, specialising in Global Studies and Public Policy. With a strong focus on European affairs, global peace, and conflict resolution, she is deeply passionate about international relations, migration, social equity, and human rights. Committed to making a meaningful global impact, Akanksha actively participates in volunteer work aimed at addressing today’s most pressing issues.
European Studies Review 