Humanitarian organizations are alerting. We are threatened with “tightening conflicts in the world”
“Europe, which puts itself in the role of the main player in the area of humanitarian aid, becomes part of the problem” – states Antonio Gambini from the Brussels Bureau of Humanitarian Organization Oxfam in an interview with PAP.
According to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), in 2024. EU countries spent on development assistance (ODA) by 8.6 percent less than in 2023. Of the 27 Member States, 16 countries reduced expenses, and only three countries – Luxembourg, Sweden, Denmark – achieved the level of 0.7 percent recommended by the UN. national income for development assistance. Poland spent just over 0.2 percent for this purpose. income.
As Laia Aycart from the Concord group points out, which brings together EU non -governmental organizations, The situation may be even worse than the data indicate. Some countries as development aid record some of the expenses that are not actually.
Gives an example of Poland, which He enters funds for the support of Ukrainian refugees in Poland as official development help. In 2022, she spent over $ 2 billion for this purpose, presenting it as 65 percent. your expenses on the ODA.
The decreases in EU expenditure overlap the already difficult situation for humanitarian organizations related to the decision of Donald Trump's administration to freeze foreign help, including over $ 40 billion. on USAID programs. In 2024, the last year of the office of Joe Biden, the United States spent almost $ 65 billion on development assistance, which accounted for 29 percent. global ode.
Great Britain also plans to limit funds for this purpose. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in February that expenses will be reduced from 0.5 percent. national income in 2024 to a record low level of 0.27 percent In 2027, in order to redirect defense funds.
As Oxfam warns, The American side cuts themselves may prevent 95 million people from access to medical services, which results in the fact that every year life will be lost by an additional 3 million people. Cuts, which also include the educational sector, can deprive 23 million children of basic education.
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“Limiting European aid can do similar damage” – warns Gamibini.
“We know that Europe cannot fill in and will not fill the gap left in the USA, but we expect that the EU will make more strategic choices, especially in key sectors” – says Aycart.
