Protecting humanity in a changing humanitarian landscape

Around the world, humanitarian needs are rising. Disasters are becoming more frequent and severe, conflicts are increasing, and millions of people are living through overlapping crises shaped by violence, displacement, climate shocks and deepening poverty.

At the same time, humanitarian action and international humanitarian law are under increasing strain. Access to communities is more restricted, core principles are being challenged by political and security agendas, and humanitarian actors are facing growing security risks. Meanwhile, the gap between needs and available resources continues to grow, requiring clearer prioritisation to reach those most in need.

And yet, in the face of these pressures, people continue to act. Communities support one another. Local organisations, including National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, step up. Preparedness and resilience efforts continue, even in uncertainty. 

“Across the Red Cross and Red Crescent, we are seeing principled humanitarian action increasingly challenged by polarisation, politicisation and erosion of trust. Protecting humanitarian space means not only defending international humanitarian law, but also strengthening the leadership and capacities of local actors, who are essential to reaching people in fragile and conflict-affected settings,” says Red Cross EU Office Director, Mette Petersen.

This is why the Joint Communication on Humanitarian Aid comes at a critical moment. As the world’s largest humanitarian donor, the EU and its Member States play a key role in shaping how the humanitarian system addresses these challenges. 

Humanitarian principles make access possible 

Humanitarian action is guided by four principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. They are practical tools that make it possible to build trust, reach people experiencing vulnerability and operate safely.

When these principles are weakened or politicised, access shrinks. People facing crisis are left with even fewer options, and assistance becomes harder to deliver where it is needed most. 

In fragile and conflict-affected settings, this matters even more. In these contexts, local and national actors are often central to maintaining access and understanding rapidly shifting risks and needs. Humanitarian actors must be able to work based on need alone – wherever people are, and regardless of politics, identity or affiliation. The EU’s role in defending this space through consistent diplomacy, policy and funding choices remains critical. 

Protecting those who provide assistance 

Protecting humanitarian space also means protecting and caring for the people who deliver aid. 

Attacks against humanitarian workers, medical personnel and civilian infrastructure are increasing across crises and are no longer isolated incidents. They reflect a broader erosion of respect for international humanitarian law. In 2025 alone, 332 humanitarians were killed worldwide, 99 per cent of whom were local (AWSD), underscoring the disproportionate risks they face. Humanitarian staff and volunteers are working in increasingly dangerous conditions to provide essential services such as food, healthcare, shelter and water. 

The consequences are immediate and human. Lives are lost. Deliveries are delayed. Services are disrupted. People are left longer without support, or without it altogether.

Stronger and more sustained political engagement is needed to uphold international humanitarian law and to protect both communities and those working alongside them. As conflicts intensify and pressure on multilateral systems grows, the EU must rise to the levels of its commitments as set out in the Communication. It should build its approach on the meaningful involvement of local actors and communities and strengthen its humanitarian diplomacy together with Member States. Through coordinated action, it can more effectively defend international humanitarian law, address restrictions on humanitarian access, and ensure that assistance is delivered safely, consistently and with dignity.

Local actors are central to impactful and sustainable responses 

Recent crises have shown, time and again, that local actors are indispensable. Local organisations, community networks, and volunteers are deeply rooted in the communities they serve, understanding local realities, maintaining trust and remaining present before, during and after crises.

Despite this, decision-making power, funding, and visibility still tend to sit with international actors. Local and national actors are too often treated as implementers rather than equal partners shaping responses in their own contexts.

Changing this is not just a matter of principle. It improves outcomes, especially in fragile and conflict-affected settings, where local actors are often best placed to manage complex dynamics, sustain access, and maintain trust. Investing in local actors strengthens response quality today and builds resilience for tomorrow. 

This requires more than short-term funding. It calls for context-specific and conflict-sensitive approaches that recognise the central role of local partners, especially in fragile settings. The EU should systematically ensure the meaningful involvement of affected communities across the full programme cycle – from design to delivery and monitoring – while expanding this approach to local organisations that support and represent them. This must be accompanied by investment in their leadership and in the institutional and operational capacity needed for sustained engagement, including across the humanitarian-development nexus.

Building resilience starts with people

Crises today do not happen in isolation. Conflict, climate risks, displacement and social vulnerabilities are increasingly interconnected, exposing and amplifying existing inequalities. 

Resilience grows when people and communities are supported beyond emergency response – to anticipate risks, adapt, and recover over time. This depends on trust, inclusion and dignity. It also depends on systems that recognise and strengthen people’s own capacities. 

The EU has long been a leading humanitarian actor and a strong defender of humanitarian principles. The Communication offers a timely opportunity to reaffirm that role in a more complex and fragile world.

By aligning its external action, upholding humanitarian principles in all contexts, protecting those who deliver assistance, and investing in the capacities of local and national actors, the EU can help ensure that humanitarian action is principled, effective and grounded in the realities of people’s lives.