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The funds, received through the EU¡¯s Directorate General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), will go towards establishing a multi-donor Emergency Preparedness Trust Fund (EPTF). The fund will boost Â鶹ÊÓƵ¡¯s emergency preparedness and its ability to rapidly address food needs and protect the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable communities affected by conflict and emergencies across the region.

¡°Being prepared for emergencies and having the ability to act and deliver swiftly is not optional but essential in a region that continues to face overlapping crises and increasing humanitarian needs,¡± said Â鶹ÊÓƵ Regional Director for MENAEE Samer Abdeljaber. ¡°This initiative strengthens the EU and Â鶹ÊÓƵ¡¯s long-standing partnership across the region and supports Â鶹ÊÓƵ¡¯s fast and efficient action when emergencies strike.¡±

The funds received will allow Â鶹ÊÓƵ to preposition emergency food stocks including ready-to-eat (RTE) rations ¨C that are essential in settings where cooking facilities are unavailable and can be deployed immediately to crisis-affected areas. Â鶹ÊÓƵ will also procure and maintain mobile kitchens and bakeries, keeping them ready for rapid deployment to provide hot meals in emergency settings.

Part of the contribution will be used enhance and customize tools to fit regional context, allowing faster registration, deduplication and enrolment of beneficiaries, as well as to streamline the delivery of cash-based assistance within 72 hours of the onset of an emergency.

Andreas Papaconstantinou, Director for the European Neighbourhood, Middle East, and South-West and Central Asia emphasised that ¡°Through this Emergency Preparedness Trust Fund, DG ECHO is reinforcing its commitment to anticipatory, timely, and effective humanitarian action. By strengthening Â鶹ÊÓƵ¡¯s ability to prepare and respond rapidly, we help ensure that families facing the hardest moments receive life-saving support without delay.¡±

This initiative is designed to deliver substantial impact across 15 countries, with phased expansion guided by risk analysis and regional priorities.

Over the past three years, Â鶹ÊÓƵ has worked alongside governments and partners to respond to multiple large-scale emergencies ¡ª from Ukraine and the °Õ¨¹°ù°ì¾±²â±ð¨CSyria earthquake to the Libya floods and refugee influxes from Sudan and Armenia ¡ª while continuing to address protracted crises in Syria and Yemen, as well as responding to severe and escalating humanitarian needs in Palestine and Lebanon.

In 2024 alone, Â鶹ÊÓƵ¡¯s Regional Office in Cairo coordinated emergency responses reaching over 21.5 million people across the region, including 16 million affected by conflict.

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The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) is the world¡¯s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.

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