European Commission Pledges Nearly €710 Million for Displaced Communities and Global Crisis Relief

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced nearly €710 million in European Union funding to support displaced populations in Sub-Saharan Africa and provide global emergency crisis relief on 26 September 2026 in New York, at the close of the 81st UN General Assembly High-Level Week.

The announcement was made in connection with advocacy organization Global Citizen's 2026 campaign. According to the European Commission, the overall package allocates €380 million in migration-related financing for Sub-Saharan Africa for 2026, aimed at protecting vulnerable migrants, assisting voluntary return and reintegration, improving migration governance, and addressing forced displacement.

From the African assistance package, €240 million is earmarked for the Migrant Protection, Return, and Reintegration programme, while €140 million is allocated for migration management and support for refugees and host communities in areas including Eastern Mauritania and Kenya. An additional €10 million will go toward peace and stability initiatives in the Great Lakes region, and €7.5 million will fund Ebola response and long-term health surveillance capacity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The European Commission also outlined €252 million from its Emergency Aid Reserve, subject to approval by the relevant budgetary authority. This emergency funding includes €103 million for populations in Palestine and Lebanon affected by conflict, displacement, and strained public services; €97 million for Sub-Saharan Africa to address food insecurity, climate impacts, and Ebola response; and €52 million for Ukraine to support winter preparedness, shelter, essential services, and energy infrastructure.

Additionally, the Commission detailed three Global Gateway health initiatives under its Global Health Resilience Initiative. These consist of an EU guarantee to encourage private investment in health and nutrition businesses across Sub-Saharan Africa, a European Investment Bank loan to boost vaccine and biological medicine manufacturing in Colombia, and €60 million to reinforce primary healthcare systems in Ethiopia.

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