EU Member States have pledged over €7.7 billion in pledges for global crises during 2024.
Gathering at the European Humanitarian Forum in Brussels on Tuesday, EU Member States announced pledges that the aim is, above all, to alleviate the humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip, where tens of thousands have been killed since October 2023. Famine is also imminent, with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open VLD) warning of Israel using hunger as a "weapon of war" at the weekend.
Attendees also announced an initiative aiming to promote compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL). "IHL In Focus" will conduct studies of current conflicts and use findings to inform future compliance with IHL.
Belgian Minister of Development Cooperation Caroline Gennez (Vooruit) said that this year's conference was "emphasised by the unprecedented high level of humanitarian needs worldwide and the ongoing catastrophe in Gaza."
She added that "ultimately, we will all pay the price" when international law is violated in conflicts across the world, making explicit reference to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Speaking earlier at the Forum, Gennez announced that Belgium would allocate €190 million for humanitarian aid this year.
