© AFP
On World Humanitarian Day this Tuesday, aid agencies warned that global needs are rising sharply while funding declines, with Luxembourg among the few maintaining its support, as crises from Pakistan to Gaza deepen and humanitarian workers face mounting risks.
This year, the United Nations had originally planned to provide humanitarian aid to 177 million people. That figure has since been revised down to 114 million.
From Pakistan, where devastating floods have hit communities, to Somalia, where famine threatens lives, the need for humanitarian assistance is as urgent as ever and spans across more regions than perhaps ever before. At the same time, funding is shrinking. The United States, particularly under the administration of Donald Trump, drastically cut back its contributions, and many European countries have been following the same trend.
Martin Lagneau, Director of Handicap International Luxembourg, observed that there is a growing disregard for international law. He explained that several states are questioning the very legitimacy of humanitarian aid operations and even the principle of helping others. According to him, the US government has openly challenged the relevance of aid, while European states tend to focus more on financial considerations, especially those linked to their defence commitments.
Luxembourg stands out as an exception, maintaining its humanitarian aid at previous levels. The Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs under the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs stated that the Grand Duchy has so far contributed €31 million this year. This includes support for people affected by the earthquake in Myanmar. In addition, through the emergency.lu communication system, evacuations have already been organised in Gaza in 2025.
Aid organisations describe the situation in Gaza as nothing short of hell on earth. Xavier Feller, Communications Director of Doctors without Borders Luxembourg, said that Gaza is witnessing an entirely preventable famine and avoidable deaths, alongside the systematic destruction of health facilities and basic infrastructure necessary for life. He stressed that the situation is worsening daily, with no end in sight.
NGOs are calling for measures ranging from humanitarian corridors to an immediate ceasefire. Beyond Gaza, however, humanitarian workers themselves are increasingly at risk. Last year, 382 aid workers were killed worldwide; so far this year, 247 have lost their lives, including 155 in the Middle East.
