REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Annual report on the European Union's humanitarian aid operations financed in 2020
Date: 2021-10-29
Institutions: Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), European Commission
Subjects: EU aid, activity report, aid evaluation, aid to disaster victims, aid to refugees, coronavirus disease, emergency aid, epidemic, food aid, forced migration, natural disaster, third country

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 29.10.2021  COM(2021) 659 final  REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Annual report on the European Union's humanitarian aid operations financed in 2020  
 
 
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 2 

HUMANITARIAN AID OPERATIONS SUPPORTED IN 2020 ................................................................ 2 

Overview – main aid operations supported......................................................................... 2 

Cross-cutting priorities ........................................................................................................ 9 

Summary of evaluations completed in 2020 ..................................................................... 11 

2020 budget ....................................................................................................................... 12 

Additional information and sources .................................................................................. 13 

DG ECHO implementing partners (2020) ........................................................................ 13 

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INTRODUCTION 

This  report  presents  the  EU’s  main  activities  and  policy  outcomes  in  2020  in  the  field  of 
humanitarian aid, as funded through the European Commission (the Commission).  

The report is prepared in accordance with Article 19 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 
of 20 June 19961. 

HUMANITARIAN AID OPERATIONS SUPPORTED IN 2020 

In 2020 humanitarian needs kept increasing due to complex crises, natural disasters, and health 
crises,  most  notably  the  COVID-19  pandemic.  The  Commission,  through  its  Directorate-
General  for  European  Civil  Protection  and  Humanitarian  Aid  Operations  (DG  ECHO), 
remained a leading humanitarian donor, allocating EUR 2.1 billion in more than 80 countries 
in  support  to  millions  of  people  in  need.  The  massive  impact  of  the  COVID-19  pandemic 
exacerbated  the  dire  situation  of  vulnerable  populations.  The  EU’s  humanitarian  response  to 
needs  resulting  from  the  pandemic  amounted  to  EUR  450  million,  and  the  Commission  also 
mobilised an EU Humanitarian Air Bridge as an ad-hoc operation bringing relief, through its 
67 flights, to 20 countries across the world.  

Together  with  Africa,  which  received  a  substantial  share,  a  significant  proportion  of  EU 
humanitarian  aid  continued  to  be  devoted  to  crisis-affected  people  inside  Syria  and  its 
neighbouring countries, including through the humanitarian component of the EU Facility for 
Refugees in Turkey.  

The  EU  also  maintained  its  focus  on  supporting  populations  that  continued  to  be  hit  by 
‘forgotten  crises’,  such  as  in  the  Central  African  Republic,  Sudan,  Pakistan,  Colombia, 
Venezuela, Haiti, and the Philippines.  

In  addition,  the  EU  carried  out  a  number  of  horizontal  policies  such  as  Education  in 
Emergencies  (EiE),  disaster  preparedness,  cash  assistance,  innovation  and  private  sector 
engagement, gender and age, and support for humanitarian transport services. 

Beyond  funding  operations,  the  Commission  played  a  leading  role  in  promoting  principled 
humanitarian aid and advocating for compliance with  International Humanitarian  Law.  It did 
so through active advocacy  for specific humanitarian crises, but  also  globally as chair of the 
Donor  Support  Group2  of  the  International  Committee  of  the  Red  Cross  (ICRC),  and  of  the 
Good  Humanitarian  Donorship  initiative3  (with  Switzerland),  as  well  as  through  its 
commitment to humanitarian civil-military coordination.  

the  growing  humanitarian  funding  gap, 

the 
To  address 
implementation of the Grand Bargain commitments4, notably in relation to multi-sectoral joint 
needs assessment.  

the  Commission  promoted 

1   OJ L 163, 2.7.1996, p. 1. 
2   The ICRC Donor Support Group is made up of governments, supranational organisations and international institutions that contribute a 
minimum of CHF 10 million per year. 
3   The Good Humanitarian Donorship initiative is an informal donor forum that brings together 42 donors committed to providing effective 
and accountable humanitarian assistance. 

4 The Grand Bargain, launched during the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul in May 2016, is a unique agreement between some of the 
largest donors and humanitarian organisations who have committed to get more means into the hands of people in need and to improve 
effectiveness and efficiency of the humanitarian action. 

2 

 
 
                                                 
Overview – main aid operations supported 

Sub-Saharan Africa 

Ethiopia  

Approximately  2  million  people  were  displaced  due  to  intra-ethnic  violence  and  climate 
hazards, and natural disasters contributed to food insecurity.  

The conflict  in  Northern Tigray  caused  food insecurity for  around 4.5 million  people and an 
additional 2 million people were internally displaced. Despite advocacy efforts, Tigray region 
remained cut off from external assistance. The EU allocated EUR 24.8 million for the Tigray 
crisis and its spillover effects.  

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 63 million. 

Kenya 

Kenya hosts over 500 000 refugees, completely dependent on aid. The “triple threat” (COVID-
19, locusts and floods) led about 2.3 million people into food insecurity.  

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 18.45 million. 

Somalia  

Floods  affected  Somalia  during  the  long  rainy  season  and  the  dry  season.  Due  to  the 
consequences  of  droughts  in  previous  years,  the  impact  of  COVID-19,  locusts  and  conflict, 
humanitarian needs remained high.  

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 50.9 million. 

South Sudan 

Communities  were  hit  hard  by  the  intensified  conflict  and  sub-national  violence,  natural 
disasters (locust infestation and the second consecutive year of flooding), and COVID-19. In 
addition  nearly  4  million  people  have  been  displaced  since  2013.  A  spike  in  sub-national 
violence and floods triggered new displacements and increased food insecurity.  

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 59 million. 

Sudan  

9.3 million people were in need of assistance due to the economic crisis, protracted conflicts, 
natural disasters (locust infestation and major flooding), the impacts of COVID-19 and a new 
refugee  crisis  triggered  by  the  conflict  Tigray.  As  a  result,  there  were  1.8  million  internally 
displaced  people  and  1.1  million  refugees  in  Sudan,  whilst  the  latest  assessment  using  the 
Integrated Food Security Phase Classification showed increased food insecurity.  

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 67.6 million. 

Uganda 

Uganda hosts the largest  refugee population  (over 1.4 million) in  Africa,  mainly from South 
Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The influx of refugees has overstretched the 
capacity  of  reception  and  transit  centres.  The  main  needs  relate  to  food  assistance,  water, 

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sanitation  and  hygiene  and  other  basic  services.  Uganda  is  also  to  prone  to  natural  disasters 
and epidemics.  

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 34.45 million. 

Burundi 

Due  to  extreme  weather  events,  COVID-19  and  protection  concerns,  1.74  million  people  in 
Burundi  and  over  310  000  refugees  in  neighbouring  countries  were  in  need  of  humanitarian 
aid.  

The  EU  took  a  regional  approach,  allocating  aid  for  coordination,  disaster  preparedness  and 
disaster risk reduction, including against epidemics.  

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 8.5 million. 

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) 

Humanitarian  crises  here  exposed  21.8  million  people  to  acute  food  insecurity.  The  rampant 
conflict  caused  over  5  million  internally  displaced  people  and  over  900  000  refugees  in 
neighbouring countries. Malaria, natural disasters, epidemics and COVID-19 took a huge toll. 

The  EU  allocated  over  EUR  40  million  for  life-saving  activities,  EUR  7  million  for 
humanitarian air services (ECHO Flight) and supported the emergency response to floods. 

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 47 million. 

Central African Republic (CAR)  

Due to the deteriorating regional crisis affecting over 1.6 million people, EU funds were used 
to support food supply and livelihood, agriculture, protection of civilians and basic services in 
the Central African Republic. Support was also given to reinforce humanitarian coordination, 
security and logistics.  

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 22.7 million. 

Sahel 

The  EU  covered  emergency  humanitarian  needs  in  Burkina  Faso,  Mauritania,  Mali,  Chad, 
Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon by allocating aid for more than 7.5 million people. 

The EU provided rapid reaction mechanisms, protection services, air services enabling access 
to  hard-to-reach  areas  (ECHO  Flight),  humanitarian  civil-military  coordination  and  security 
management in conflict areas. It also provided treatment in response to the food and nutrition 
crisis.  Finally,  the  Commission  implemented  the  humanitarian-development-peace  nexus5  to 
build the resilience of the affected population, reduce humanitarian needs and address the root 
causes of food insecurity and acute undernutrition. 

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 190 million. 

5 https://ec.europa.eu/echo/what/humanitarian-aid/resilience_en 

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Lake Chad Basin 

A decade-long crisis  has been affecting  over 10 million people  in  this region.  The EU funds 
provided  relief,  protection  and  assistance  to  conflict-stricken  populations  in  the  region,  and 
supported treatment for severe acute malnutrition.  

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 72 million. 

Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region 

Emergency  response  to  natural  and  man-made  disasters,  EiE  and  disaster  preparedness  were 
priorities in the region, given the increase of extreme weather events. There were also over 16 
million  people  threatened  by  food  insecurity.  COVID-19  and  its  consequences  had  a  serious 
impact on livelihoods, and EU funding contributed to preparedness and response. The EU also 
provided  humanitarian  assistance  in  response  to  the  crisis  related  to  armed  violence  and 
internal displacement in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province. 

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 64.9 million.  

North Africa 

Libya 

The end of the armed conflict left 316 000 internally displaced people and 1.3 million in need 
of  aid.  COVID-19,  violations  of  international  humanitarian  law  and  limited  humanitarian 
access exacerbated the crisis. 

The EU allocated aid for assistance to displaced people, refugees, migrants, returnees and host 
communities,  as  well  as  helping  with  coordination  and  logistics  support,  including  UN 
Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) flights.  

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 9 million. 

Egypt 

Almost 260 000 registered refugees and asylum seekers are stranded in Egypt, of which 38% 
are children.  

EU aid focused on humanitarian protection, cash to cover basic needs and EiE.  

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 5 million. 

Sahrawi Crisis 

Tens  of  thousands  of  Sahrawi  refugees  remain  stranded  in  a  40-year-long  forgotten  crisis. 
They  live  in  five  camps  with  little  access  to  outside  resources,  making  humanitarian  aid 
essential to their survival. 

EU aid  covered  food, safe drinking  water  and  essential  medicines, EiE and  preparedness  for 
COVID-19. 

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 9 million. 

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Central and South America, and the Caribbean 

Venezuela 

The socio-economic collapse of Venezuela resulted in over 14 million people being in need of 
assistance.  This  was  then  aggravated  by  COVID-19,  violence,  political  polarisation,  legal 
insecurity,  fuel  shortages  and  massive  electricity  blackouts.  The  number  of  Venezuelan 
migrants and refugees reached 5.5 million. 

Alongside aid, the EU continued its efforts on the diplomatic front. Together with Spain, the 
EU  co-hosted  a  virtual  pledging  conference6  in  response  to  the  Venezuela  migration  and 
refugee crisis in May 2020. 

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 67.7 million. 

Colombia 

Humanitarian  aid  helped  Colombia  to  cope  with  hosting  1.7  million  Venezuelan  refugees, 
ongoing  internal  conflict  and  COVID-19.  In  addition,  over  590  000  people  were  directly 
impacted by natural disasters.  

The  EU  assistance  covered  sectors  such  as  humanitarian  protection,  healthcare,  water  and 
sanitation, EiE and disaster preparedness. 

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 5.85 million. 

Central America 

El Niño, hurricanes Eta and Iota and COVID-19 exposed 5.5 million people to food insecurity. 
This  was  aggravated  by  organised  violence,  criminality  and  the  migration  crisis.  EU  aid 
included  EUR 2.85 million released in emergency response to the hurricanes Eta and Iota. 

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 17.15 million. 

The Caribbean  

The  COVID-19  crisis  increased  poverty  and  made  migrants  and  asylum  seekers  more 
vulnerable.  The  hurricane  season  negatively  impacted  livelihoods  and  infrastructures.  In  the 
region, around 10 million people were exposed to food insecurity. 

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 3.76 million. 

Haiti 

COVID-19,  violence  and  criminality  exacerbated  the  socio-political  crisis.  COVID-19  also 
negatively affected livelihoods and the ongoing food insecurity, with over 4 million people in 
need of assistance.  

EU aid covered the food crisis, Covid-19 and disaster preparedness. 

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 21 million. 

6 http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Portal/es/SalaDePrensa/ElMinisterioInforma/Paginas/Noticias/20200519_MINISTERIO6.aspx  

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South Asia and Pacific 

Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran 

In  Afghanistan  there  were  3.4  million  internally  displaced  people,  and  6.5  million  Afghan 
refugees  living  in  Iran  and  Pakistan.  In  Iran,  increased  pressure  from  USA  sanctions  limited 
access to basic services, whilst Pakistan’s food crisis was aggravated by COVID-19. All three 
countries were affected by natural disasters.  

The  EU  allocated  EUR  69  million  in  humanitarian  aid  to  Afghanistan,  including  emergency 
response  and  trauma  care.  And  it  allocated  EUR  61  million  to  Iran  and  Pakistan,  to  help 
Afghan refugees and vulnerable people.  

In  November  2020,  during  the  international  conference  on  Afghanistan7,  the  Commission 
jointly organised a side-event on ‘Humanitarian Aid, IHL and Protection of Civilians’8. 

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 130 million. 

Myanmar and Bangladesh 

There  are  around  900  000  stateless  refugees  in  Cox’s  Bazar  in  Bangladesh,  fully  reliant  on 
humanitarian aid, without freedom of movement and opportunities to earn a living.  

The EU jointly organised a Rohingya donor conference9 in October 2020 and provided aid to 
cover  basic  services  and  disaster  risk  reduction.  It  also  supported  vulnerable  populations  in 
other  conflict  areas  of  Myanmar,  as  well  as  support  to  refugees  in  Thailand,  Indonesia,  and 
Malaysia. 

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 60.9 million. 

Philippines 

Due to the long-standing internal conflicts in Mindanao, some 300 000 people were in need of 
humanitarian aid (including internally displaced people and returnees). The Philippines is also 
one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world.  

Emergency assistance was provided to the most vulnerable people affected by internal conflict 
in  Mindanao  and  natural  disasters.  EU  aid  covered  areas  such  as  emergency  shelter,  water, 
sanitation and hygiene, health, food and non-food and EiE.  

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 5.6 million. 

Middle East and Neighbourhood 

Syria 

Over  11  million  people  were  in  need  of  humanitarian  aid  in  Syria.  EU  aid  helped  the 
vulnerable, and covered the delivery of food, medicine, water, and shelter as well as improving 
living conditions – including in health, protection and EiE, and through cash assistance.  

7 https://um.fi/afghanistan-conference-2020 

8 https://ec.europa.eu/echo/content/afghanistan-high-level-meeting-international-humanitarian-law-and-protection-civilians_en 

9 https://ec.europa.eu/echo/content/rohingya_donor_conference_en 

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The Commission organised and co-chaired the conference on ‘Supporting the Future of Syria 
and  the  Region10’  and  participated  in  the  Humanitarian  Task  Force11  related  to  the 
International Syria Support Group in Geneva.  

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 197 million. 

Lebanon and Jordan 

The EU helped Syrian refugees and local vulnerable population in Lebanon and Jordan. EUR 
30 million of immediate aid was provided in response to the devastating explosions in the port 
of Beirut in August 2020. 

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 96 million. 

Palestine12 

EU  aid  helped  vulnerable  civilians  in  Gaza,  exposed  to  conflict  in  a  deteriorating  socio-
economic environment, and supported vulnerable communities at risk of forced displacement 
and lacking access to basic services in the West Bank.  

The  Commission  continued  to  advocate  for  the  respect  of  international  humanitarian  law  in 
Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank.  

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 22.7 million. 

Iraq 

COVID-19  aggravated  the  political,  security  and  socio-economic  crises,  with  nearly  1.8 
million people in acute humanitarian need. The government campaign to close and consolidate 
camps for internally displaced people triggered significant secondary displacement to informal 
sites.  

EU  aid  covered  cash  assistance,  water  and  hygiene  support,  health,  protection  and  legal 
assistance for the internally displaced, as well as COVID-19 emergency response.  

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 35 million. 

Yemen 

The  world’s  largest  humanitarian  crisis  further  deteriorated  as  a  result  of  escalating  conflict 
and  a  protracted  economic  blockade.  Natural  disasters  and  COVID-19  exacerbated  the 
situation.  As a result, 24.3 million people were in need of aid, with over 14 million in acute 
need.  

Yemen is experiencing one of the largest food security emergencies in the world, with 45% of 
the  population  facing  severe  food  insecurity,  including  16  500  people  facing  famine.  In 
addition, over 4 million people have been internally displaced.  

EU  aid  addressed  the  needs  of  people  directly  affected  by  the  conflict,  along  with  food 

10 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-ministerial-meetings/2020/06/30/ 

11 https://specialenvoysyria.unmissions.org/humanitarian-task-force 

12  This  designation  shall not be  construed  as  recognition of  a  State  of  Palestine  and is  without prejudice  to  the  individual 

positions of the Member States on this issue. 

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insecurity,  malnutrition  and  health  crises.  The  Commission  played  an  active  role  within  the 
donor community in mobilising international humanitarian support for Yemen and advocating 
for more funding and humanitarian access.  

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 119 million. 

Turkey 

In  2020  Turkey  was  hosting  4  million  refugees,  of  which  3.6  million  were  Syrians  who  had 
fled  the  conflict.  Existing  vulnerabilities  were  exacerbated  by  COVID-19,  which  intensified 
the needs of refugees. Since 2015, the EU has supported more than 80 humanitarian projects 
through over 22 partner organisations.  

Under  the  EU  Facility  for  Refugees  in  Turkey13
,  the  EU  budget  and  additional  contributions 
from  EU Member States had already  provided  EUR 2.4 billion  for humanitarian projects.  In 
2020, an additional EUR 531.7 million was allocated.  

Of this, EUR 485 million covered two flagship programmes:  

  Emergency  Social  Safety  Net14  –  providing  1.8  million  refugees  with  monthly  cash 

payments through debit cards, to address their basic needs.  

  Conditional  Cash  Transfer  for  Education15  –  the  EU’s  biggest  EiE  programme.  It 
reached  over  670  000  children  and  provided  cash  transfers  to  vulnerable  families,  to 
promote enrolment and regular school attendance.  

The EU also supported key humanitarian projects on health and protection. 

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 531.7 million. 

Western Balkans 

In  2020  some  8  000  refugees  and  migrants  were  stranded,  with  between  1  500  and  3  000 
people  sleeping  outside  in  dire  conditions.  EU  aid  covered  healthcare  services,  COVID-19 
response, protection, support for unaccompanied minors and life-saving assistance for those in 
and outside the temporary reception centres.  

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 5.5 million. 

Ukraine 

3.4  million  people  were  in  need  of  assistance  in  the  conflict-affected  parts  of  Ukraine.  The 
situation was exacerbated by COVID-19 and food insecurity – the delivery of humanitarian aid 
in the areas not controlled by the government was impacted.  

EU aid covered multi-purpose cash assistance, EiE, mine risk education, measures to prepare 
for winter and COVID-19 response.  

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 23 million. 

13 https://ec.europa.eu/echo/where/europe/turkey_en 

14 https://ec.europa.eu/echo/essn_en 

15 https://ec.europa.eu/echo/field-blogs/videos/conditional-cash-transfer-education-ccte-programme-refugee-children-turkey_en 

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Nagorno Karabakh 

The hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan resulted in thousands of casualties and pushed 
hundreds  of  thousands  to  flee  their  homes.  The  EU  allocated  immediate  aid  to  cover  basic 
needs.  

Total EU humanitarian assistance – EUR 3.9 million. 

Horizontal priorities 

Education in Emergencies (EiE) 

In  2020,  more  than  1  billion  children  were  at  risk  of  falling  behind  in  learning,  in  an 
unprecedented  disruption  of  education  due  to  COVID-19.  In  line  with  its  previous 
commitments,  the  Commission  dedicated  10%  of  the  EU’s  initial  2020  humanitarian  aid 
budget to EiE.  

This funding amounted to EUR 115 million, benefiting over 1.9 million children. 

Disaster preparedness 

In  2020,  the  Commission  continued  strengthening  disaster  preparedness  and  early  action,  by 
allocating EUR 50 million for specifically targeted action, benefitting 35 million persons living 
in disaster-prone regions.  

Disaster  preparedness  is  mainstreamed  in  humanitarian  assistance,  and  46%  of  all  EU 
humanitarian projects funded in 2020 included disaster preparedness activities (65% over the 
past five years). This is also linked to activities of improving climate resilience, with many of 
the  countries  suffering  humanitarian  crises  being  among  the  most  climate  vulnerable  in  the 
world. The Commission works actively to promote synergies between its activities related to 
the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Paris Agreement. 

In a related effort to reduce the long-term causes of disasters, the Commission has also taken a 
phased  approach  to  reducing  the  environmental  footprint  of  the  humanitarian  assistance  it 
provides. 

Cash assistance 

In  line  with  the  Council  Conclusions  on  multi-purpose  cash16  and  the  Grand  Bargain 
commitments,  the  Commission  encouraged  the  use  of  cash  transfers,  which  offers  affected 
people greater choice, flexibility and control over their own lives.  

To  increase  transparency  and  accountability,  the  Commission  applied  its  guidelines  on 
delivering large-scale cash transfers17 (which were being revised in 2020). In doing so, it took 
full account of each specific context. It also started to revise its policy on cash and vouchers18 
at the end of 2020.  

The Commission actively contributed to the Donor Cash Forum.  

16 Council Conclusions 10184/15 of 22 June 2015. 

17 https://ec.europa.eu/echo/sites/default/files/guidance_note_cash_23_11_2017.pdf  

18 https://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/policies/sectoral/them_policy_doc_cashandvouchers_en.pdf 

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Innovation and private sector engagement 

The  Commission  participated  in  the  World  Economic  Forum's  Humanitarian  Resilience 
Investing  Initiative19,  designed  to  improve  the  organisational  readiness  of  private  sector  and 
humanitarian organisations to work together. 

As part of the efforts to raise additional private finance for humanitarian aid, the Commission 
will pilot an innovative instrument involving private sector capital in 2021, within its existing 
financial and legal framework.  

The  Commission  also  supported  the  European  Innovation  Council  Horizon  2020  Prize  for 
'Affordable  High-Tech  for  Humanitarian  Aid'20,  which  was  awarded  to  five  humanitarian 
innovators in 2020.   

Gender and age, including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) 

The  Commission  continued  to  advance  the  implementation  of  the  approach  to  gender  and 
gender-based  violence  in  humanitarian  crises,  which  was  outlined  in  the  staff  working 
document  ‘Gender:  Different  Needs,  Adapted  Assistance’21.  Consistent  with  that,  the 
Commission  continued  the  implementation  of  its  gender-age  marker.  These  activities  are  in 
line with the EU’s comprehensive policy on women, peace and security22 and the 2016-2020 
Gender Action Plan II23.  

The EU has remained a member of the global initiative Call to Action on Protection from GBV 
in Emergencies24. In September 2020, a new Call to Action road map25 was launched, covering 
2021-2025. The EU confirmed its commitment to this road map. 

The  Commission  continued  supporting  prevention  and  response  to  sexual-  and  gender-based 
violence  by  incorporating  these  issues  broadly  across  its  humanitarian  work,  and  through 
targeted actions and capacity building. 

The  EU  continued  its  work  on  child  protection  in  humanitarian  crises,  and  allocated  nearly 
EUR 93 million of humanitarian aid to child protection activities.  

ECHO  Flight  (Africa),  Humanitarian  Air  Bridge,  and  other  support  for  humanitarian 
air transport services 

ECHO  Flight  is  a  humanitarian  air  service  with  four  aircraft,  and  a  budget  of  EUR  14.8 
million,  serving  the  Commission’s  humanitarian  partners  and  humanitarian  organisations.  It 
supported over 150 projects, and transported over 8 000 humanitarian aid workers and around 
250 tons of humanitarian cargo.  

The  Commission  also  implemented  the  EU  Humanitarian  Air  Bridge  (EUR  10  million):  67 

19 https://www.weforum.org/projects/humanitarian-investing-initiative 

20 https://ec.europa.eu/info/news/eic-horizon-prize-affordable-high-tech-humanitarian-aid-commission-awards-five-

outstanding-solutions-2020-sep-24_en 

21 https://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/policies/sectoral/gender_thematic_policy_document_en.pdf 

22 Council Conclusions 11031/19 of 5 July 2019. 

23 Council Conclusions 13201/15 of 26 October 2015. 

24 https://www.calltoactiongbv.com/ 

25 https://www.calltoactiongbv.com/what-we-do 

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flights were organised to beneficiary countries, transporting over 1 500 passengers and 1 200 
tonnes of humanitarian cargo. 

Moreover,  the  EU  contributed  to  not-for-profit  humanitarian  air  services  such  as  the  World 
Food Programme’s 2020 COVID-19 Common Transport Service Plan26.  

Summary of evaluations completed in 2020 

Combined evaluation of EU humanitarian intervention in Iraq and the Protection Sector, 
2014-18 

https://ec.europa.eu/echo/sites/echo-site/files/kr0220290enn.pdf  

The evaluation found that funding in Iraq and globally in the Protection sector achieved short-
term  objectives,  but  addressing  broader  threats  and  deeper  vulnerabilities  was  more 
challenging.  

In Iraq, advocacy had multiple successes; efficiency and cost-effectiveness were appropriate, 
with possibilities for building staff capacities. But there was some variability in the quality of 
needs analyses, both in Iraq and in the Protection Sector.  

The  recommendations  focus  on  increasing  funding  for  protection  and  improving  advocacy, 
strategic  planning,  capacity  for  assessing  efficiency  and  cost-effectiveness  and  deliberation 
around both humanitarian principles and the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. 

Evaluation of EU humanitarian assistance in Ukraine (2014-18)  

https://ec.europa.eu/echo/sites/echo-
site/files/evaluation_eu_humanitarian_assistance_ukraine_2014-2018.pdf 

The  Commission  was  rapid  and  effective,  performed  very  well  overall,  and  demonstrated 
system-wide leadership in strategic thinking and coordination. Member States praised the field 
team and appreciated its access to the non-government-controlled areas.  

In  Ukraine,  the  Commission  supported  system-wide  joint  and  impartial  needs  assessments, 
advanced an explicit Joint Humanitarian-Development Framework with the other EU services 
to  facilitate  the  coordination  and  transition  between  humanitarian  aid,  stabilisation,  early 
recovery and development, and supported the creation of the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund27.  

All  donors,  including  the  EU,  faced  particular  challenges  in  adapting  their  funding  to  the 
unusually high proportion of vulnerable elderly people in the affected population. Since needs 
in  those  areas  remain  high,  the  focus  should  remain  on  advocacy  and  funding  in  the  near 
future, despite difficult access. 

26 https://www.wfp.org/publications/wfp-common-services 

27 https://www.unocha.org/ukraine  

12 

 
 
 
                                                 
2020 budget 

The funding agreements for humanitarian aid concluded by the Commission in 2020 can be 
found on the Financial Transparency System website.  

Humanitarian aid budget implementation 

HUMANITARIAN AID 2020 BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION 
Excluding external assigned revenue from Member States 

Region/country 

Amount 

% 

Africa 

Upper Nile Basin 

Central Africa 

Great Lakes 

Horn of Africa 

Southern Africa, Indian Ocean 

West Africa 

North Africa 

EU trust fund for Africa 

30% 

637 

158 

117 

47 

127 

65 

90 

23 

10 

Middle East, Southeast Europe and Eastern neighbourhood 

1 033 

48% 

Middle East 

Southeast Europe and Eastern neighbourhood 

Asia, Pacific 

South West and Central Asia 

South East Asia and Pacific 

Latin America, Caribbean 

Latin America 

Caribbean 

Worldwide disasters 

Complementary operations and support 

TOTAL 

470 

563 

197 

130 

67 

115 

91 

24 

95 

72 

2 14828 

( in million 
EUR ) 

9% 

5.5% 

4.5% 

3% 

100% 

28   In  addition  to  the  humanitarian  aid  budget,  DG  ECHO  managed  EUR  613  million  under  the  EU’s  Civil  Protection 
Mechanism, EUR 220 million under the Emergency Support Instrument and EUR 3 million under the EU Aid Volunteers 
programme. 

13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Additional information and sources 

•  General information on DG ECHO:  

http://ec.europa.eu/echo/en     

•  Financial information on the European Commission's humanitarian aid activities in 

2020: 
https://ec.europa.eu/echo/funding-evaluations/funding-decisions-hips_en  

•  Operational information from previous years: 

https://ec.europa.eu/echo/who/accountability/annual-reports_en   

•  2020 Annual Activity Report, DG ECHO: not available yet 

•  2020 Annual Management and Performance Report: not available yet 

•  DG ECHO evaluation reports:  

https://ec.europa.eu/echo/funding-evaluations/evaluations_en  

•  European Commission and Member States' humanitarian aid funding data: 

https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/hac/  

DG ECHO implementing partners (2020)29 

Member States’ specialised agencies 

Member State  Name 

France 

Agence Française d’Expertise Technique Internationale 

Germany 

Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Internationale Zusammenarbeit 

Country 

Name 

Switzerland 

Comité International De La Croix-Rouge (CICR) 

International Organisations 

Switzerland  

Fédération Internationale Des Sociétés De La Croix-Rouge Et Du Croissant Rouge 

Country 

Name 

France 

United Nations Educational Scientific And Cultural Organization 

United Nations Agencies 

Italy 

Italy 

Israel 

United Nations - Food And Agriculture Organization 

World Food Program 

United Nations Relief And Works Agency For Palestine Refugees In Near East 

Switzerland 

International Organization For Migration (INT) 

Switzerland 

Office Of The High Commissioner For Human Rights 

Switzerland 

United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees 

Switzerland 

United Nations Office For Disaster Risk Reduction 

Switzerland 

United Nations, Office For The Coordination Of Humanitarian Affairs 

29 DG ECHO partners implementing EU-funded humanitarian aid operations during 2020. 

14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
Switzerland 

World Health Organization 

United Nations Agencies 

USA 

USA 

USA 

USA 

USA 

USA 

USA 

USA 

UN Women 

UNDP Multi Partner Trust Fund Office 

Unicef 

United Nations - Pan American Health Organization 

United Nations Development Programme 

United Nations Mine Action Service 

United Nations Office For Project Services 

United Nations Population Fund 

Country 

Name 

Non-Governmental Organisations 

Austria 

Austria 

Austria 

Austria 

Belgium 

Belgium 

Belgium 

Belgium 

Czechia 

Care Österreich 

Caritas Österreich 

Hope'87 - Hundreds Of Original Projects For Employment 

World Vision Österreich 

Croix Rouge De Belgique - Communauté Francophone 

Médecins Du Monde - Dokters Van De Wereld 

OXFAM-Solidarité 

Vzw Rode-Kruis Vlaanderen Internationaal 

Človek V Tísni, O.P.S. 

Denmark 

Adra Danmark 

Denmark 

CARE Danmark - Fonden For Frivillig Ulandsbistand 

Denmark 

Danish Committee For Aid To Afghan Refugees 

Denmark 

Dansk Flygtningehjaelp 

Denmark 

Dansk Rode Kors 

Denmark 

Folkekirkens Nodhjaelp 

Denmark 

Red Barnet 

Kirkon Ulkomaanapu Sr 

Pelastakaa Lapset - Rädda Barnen 

Plan Suomi Säätiö 

Suomen Punainen Risti   

Acted 

Action Contre La Faim 

Agronomes Et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières 

Care France 

Caritas France - Secours Catholique 

Croix-Rouge Française 

Fédération Handicap International 

Immap France 

La Chaine De L'espoir 

Médecins Du Monde 

MRCA/Relief International 

Première Urgence Internationale 

Solidarités International 

Finland 

Finland 

Finland 

Finland 

France 

France 

France 

France 

France 

France 

France 

France 

France 

France 

France 

France 

France 

15 

 
 
 
Non-Governmental Organisations 

France 

France 

The Alliance For International Medical Action  

Triangle Génération Humanitaire 

Germany 

ADRA Deutschland E.V. 

Germany 

Care Deutschland E.V. 

Germany 

DEUTSCHE WELTHUNGERHILFE E.V. 

Germany 

DEUTSCHER CARITASVERBAND E.V. 

Germany 

Deutsches Rotes Kreuz 

Germany 

Evangelisches Werk Für Diakonie Und Entwicklung E.V. 

Germany 

Help- Hilfe Zur Selbsthilfe E.V.  

Germany 

International Rescue Committee IRC Deutschland Ggmbh 

Germany 

Islamic Relief Humanitäre Organisation In Deutschland E.V. 

Germany 

MALTESER HILFSDIENST E.V., (DEU) 

Germany 

MEDAIR E.V. 

Germany 

Plan International Deutschland E.V. 

Germany 

Save The Children Deutschland E.V. 

Germany 

Tearfund Deutschland E.V. 

Germany 

World Vision 

Ireland 

Ireland 

Ireland 

Ireland 

Italy 

Italy 

Italy 

Italy 

Italy 

Italy 

Italy 

Italy 

Italy 

Italy 

Italy 

Italy 

Italy 

Italy 

Italy 

Concern Worldwide 

Goal 

Plan Ireland Charitable Assistance 

Trocaire 

Actionaid International Italia Onlus 

Associazione Internazionale Volontari Laici- Servizio Di Pace 

Associazione Italiana Per La Solidarietà Tra I Popoli 

Cesvi Fondazione Onlus 

Comitato Internazionale Per Lo Sviluppo Dei Popoli 

Cooperazione Internazionale 

EMERGENCY - Life Support For Civilian War Victims ONG ONLUS 

Fondazione Avsi 

Fondazione Opera San Francesco Saverio 

Fondazione Terre Des Hommes Italia Onlus 

Intersos 

Oxfam Italia Onlus Associazione 

Save The Children Italia ONLUS 

Un Ponte Per 

Weworld-GVC Onlus 

Luxembourg 

Aide Internationale De La Croix-Rouge Luxembourgeoise A.S.B.L. 

Luxembourg 

Fondation Caritas Luxembourg 

Netherlands 

Het Nederlandse Rode Kruis 

Netherlands 

International Ngo Safety Organisation 

Netherlands 

Save The Children  

Netherlands 

Stichting Care Nederland 

Netherlands 

Stichting CORDAID 

Netherlands 

Stichting Nederlandse Vrienden Der SOS Kinderdorpen 

Netherlands 

Stichting Oxfam Novib 

Netherlands 

Stichting Plan International Nederland 

16 

 
 
Non-Governmental Organisations 

Netherlands 

Stichting Terre Des Hommes Nederland 

Netherlands 

Stichting War Child 

Netherlands 

Stichting World Vision Nederland 

Netherlands 

Zoa 

Norway 

Norway 

Norway 

Norway 

Norway 

Poland 

Spain 

Spain 

Spain 

Spain 

Spain 

Spain 

Spain 

Spain 

Spain 

Spain 

Spain 

Spain 

Spain 

Sweden 

Sweden 

Sweden 

Kirkens Nødhjelp 

Norges Rode Kors 

Norsk Folkehjelp 

Norwegian Refugee Council  

Redd Barna 

Polska Akcja Humanitarna 

Acción Contra El Hambre  

Ayuda En Acción 

Caritas Espanola 

Cruz Roja Española 

Entreculturas- Fe Y Alegria 

Federacion De Asociaciones Medicus Mundi Espana 

Fundacion  Oxfam Intermon 

Fundacion Alianza Por Los Derechos, La Iguald Y La Solidaridad Internacional 

Fundación Educación Y Cooperación - Educo 

Fundación Plan International España 

Fundación Save The Children 

Medicos Del Mundo España 

Solidaridad Internacional Andalucia 

Plan International Sverige Insamlingsstiftelse 

Radda Barnens Riksforbund 

Svenska Kyrkan 

Switzerland 

Appel De Genève / Geneva Call 

Switzerland 

Caritas Schweiz 

Switzerland 

Terre Des Hommes 

Aga Khan Foundation  

British Red Cross  

Care International 

Christian Aid  

Helpage International 

International Medical Corps 

Mercy Corps Europe  

Muslim Hands 

Plan International 

Relief International 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

UK 

17