Finland to grant EUR 13.5 million in life-saving humanitarian assistance

Finland to grant EUR 13.5 million in life-saving humanitarian assistance

Finland will grant a total of EUR 13.5 million in humanitarian assistance at the end of the year. The total funding for humanitarian assistance in 2025 is over EUR 111 million. The funds granted at the end of year will go to humanitarian crises in Ukraine, Nigeria, Sudan, Gaza, Yemen and Afghanistan.

In line with the Government Programme, the provision of humanitarian assistance will focus on helping the most vulnerable people.

In this instalment, EUR 4 million in humanitarian assistance will be channelled to Ukraine. EUR 2 million will be channelled to Ukraine through the World Food Programme (WFP). The WFP works with local partners and delivers food kits, among other assistance, in frontline areas.

In addition, EUR 1 million of Finland's support will be channelled through the Grain from Ukraine initiative implemented by the WFP. Under the initiative, grain is exported from Ukraine to food-insecure countries in Africa and the Middle East. EUR 1 million will be channelled through the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR to help internally displaced people. Both organisations also provide assistance in preparing for the coming winter.

"The humanitarian situation in Ukraine has gotten worse. Civilians are living in very difficult conditions, especially in frontline areas. Finland's humanitarian assistance to Ukraine will continue, and we will explore new forms of action as part of our overall support for Ukraine," says Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio.

The catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory, especially in Gaza, is ongoing. The ceasefire has slightly improved access to humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

Finland will grant a total of EUR 3.5 million in humanitarian assistance to the region through the WFP, which is providing life-saving food assistance in Gaza. In its support for the WFP, Finland emphasises greater inclusion of people with disabilities and consideration of the needs and rights of women and girls, among other priorities.

Finland will also grant assistance to humanitarian situations in Africa. The humanitarian crisis in Sudan continues to be the largest in the world in terms of affected people. Famine has been confirmed in certain regions, and the country has the world's largest number of people fleeing their homes. Finland will grant EUR 2 million through the UNHCR' regional appeal for Sudan.

Finland will also grant EUR 1 million in humanitarian assistance to Nigeria through the UNHCR. The humanitarian situation in the country is worsened by internal violence and economic instability and climate-related catastrophes.