The European Union is significantly reinforcing its efforts to protect humanitarian personnel operating in high-danger zones by allocating an additional €4.35 million to the ‘Protect Aid Workers‘ initiative.
The decision comes at a time when the work of humanitarian personnel is becoming more and more dangerous. This new funding will support humanitarian staff who experience critical incidents in the line of duty, ensuring their safety and recovery. The primary focus will be on local humanitarian workers as they are more exposed to armed violence and threats to their lives.
The announcement came yesterday as the Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management, and Equality, Hadja Lahbib, hosted a side event to the Sakharov Prize ceremony to meet with the nominees for the prize, Palestinian Red Crescent Society and UNRWA, but also humanitarian workers from Afghanistan, Ukraine and Sudan who have benefitted from the Protect Aid Workers programme.
Since the launch of the Protect Aid Workers programme, the EU has supported more than 450 aid workers and their families.
A press release is available online.