The role of humanitarian aid in Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America and the Caribbean is the second most disaster-prone region in the world, second only to Asia and the Pacific. At least 90 earthquakes, 77 droughts, 400 storms, 681 floods and some 42 volcanic events impacted the region between 2000 and 2022, affecting 190 million people in the region, according to the UN Offices for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

The earthquakes in Haiti (2010 and 2021), the powerful hurricanes Eta and Iota in Central America (2020) or Hurricane Otis in Mexico (2023), the eruption of the La Souffrière volcano in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2021) or that of the Fuego volcano in Guatemala (2018), the forest fires in Colombia and Chile (2024), the floods in South America or the increasingly intense and frequent droughts that silently advance across the continent, are just some of the recent examples that have endangered the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in the region.

European Union (EU) humanitarian aid is an expression of European solidarity with people in need around the world. It aims to save and preserve lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering and safeguard the integrity and dignity of populations affected by disasters and conflicts.

EU humanitarian aid is not influenced by any political, strategic, military or economic objectives. This is also essential to ensure that aid can be delivered to people affected by crises in often complex political and security environments. The principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence are fundamental to our humanitarian action:

• Humanity means that human suffering must be addressed wherever it is found, with special attention to the most vulnerable.
• Neutrality means that humanitarian aid must not favour any party to an armed conflict or other dispute.
• Impartiality means that humanitarian aid should be provided solely on the basis of need, without discrimination.
• Independence means the autonomy of humanitarian objectives from political, economic, military or other objectives.

European Union humanitarian aid in Panama

Since 1996, the European Union (EU), through its European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Department (DG ECHO), has allocated a total of EUR 12.4 million in humanitarian aid to Panama for emergency response, disaster preparedness and to address the migration emergency. For example, following the November 2024 floods, the EU allocated 130,000 euros in humanitarian funding to directly benefit 2,500 people in the most affected areas, in the provinces of Los Santos, Panama and Herrera.

Compared to its Central American neighbours, Panama experiences fewer extreme weather events. However, weather-related disasters have increased in both frequency and intensity. For example, in 2020, the powerful hurricanes Eta and Iota caused significant damage in some areas of the country and in 2023-2024 Panama experienced a drought whose repercussions were aggravated by the presence of the El Niño phenomenon.

Since 2021, EU humanitarian operations have been directed at responding to the humanitarian needs of people transiting through the Darien and traveling as part of mixed migratory movements: women, men and children who have been forced to leave their homes due to armed conflict, climate change or in search of a better life. Since then, the EU has allocated a total of 7 million euros through its humanitarian partners.

In addition, Panama is one of 25 countries receiving support under the Programmatic Alliance between the European Union and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). This humanitarian partnership seeks to support epidemic and pandemic preparedness efforts with a multi-year allocation of EU funds.

On October 12, 2022, the EU opened DG ECHO's Regional Support Office in Panama to provide expertise and services to improve the quality and efficiency of humanitarian response in Latin America and the Caribbean. Its work includes rapid response to emergencies, monitoring of operations, formulation of humanitarian strategies, monitoring of the humanitarian situation and promotion of good humanitarian principles and practices. Raising public awareness of humanitarian issues is also part of the Humanitarian Aid Department's mandate.

That same year, a humanitarian aid inventory was also inaugurated in Panama, located in the facilities of the Humanitarian Hub in Panama Pacifico. Its aim is to enable the EU to respond quickly to sudden humanitarian crises by providing free materials to all of Latin America and the Caribbean within 72 hours. The European Humanitarian Response Capacity reserve prepositioned in Panama consists of humanitarian aid supplies such as water purification kits, hygiene kits, water storage tools, mosquito nets and other goods necessary to meet the most urgent needs of affected populations in the event of emergencies.

A key donor

The European Commission's Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Department (DG ECHO) was created in 1992 as an expression of European solidarity with people in need around the world. It has been providing humanitarian aid for more than 30 years, supported by its field network and humanitarian partners, including specialised UN agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

EU humanitarian work is guided by the humanitarian principles of international humanitarian law: humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. EU humanitarian action also embodies the principle of solidarity, as set out in the Lisbon Treaty.

In 2010, the department integrated civil protection for better coordination and response to disasters inside and outside Europe, through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the work of the EU Emergency Response Coordination Center.

Since 1994, the EU has allocated 1.949 billion euros in humanitarian aid to Latin America and the Caribbean. This amount has made it possible to respond to disasters caused by hurricanes, droughts, cold waves, floods, landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and conflicts. At the same time, vulnerable communities and local authorities have received disaster preparedness training since 1996 that has saved many lives.

Complementary work

Civil protection and humanitarian aid are complementary.

In the case of humanitarian aid, we share competencies with the EU Member States, and together we are one of the largest humanitarian donors in the world. The EU's initial humanitarian budget amounts to more than EUR 1.65 billion per year and helps millions of people around the globe.

When it comes to civil protection, the EU takes a supporting role, coordinating voluntary contributions of in-kind assistance from countries participating in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

How is humanitarian aid delivered?

European humanitarian aid includes the distribution of goods and services such as food, clothing, shelter, medical supplies, water supply, sanitation, emergency rehabilitation and landmine clearance. Humanitarian funds are also used to finance coordination actions to ensure that aid reaches those in need quickly.

The EU also funds actions to increase disaster response capacity and mitigate the consequences of disasters in disaster-prone regions. Good preparedness together with support for national and regional disaster risk reduction initiatives limits the negative impact of disasters, and primarily helps to save lives.

With its assistance, the EU seeks to complement local efforts to meet the needs arising from humanitarian crises, independent of media coverage and with the sole objective of assisting the affected population, as established in its Mandate.