EU unlocks humanitarian aid for Africa and other crisis-hit regions

The European Union has pledged to release more than 710 million euros ($810m) to help people affected by crises, natural disasters or conflicts worldwide, particularly in Africa. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the announcement in a post on her X account on Saturday, following the cancellation of New York’s Global Citizen Festival, where she was due to speak. “Conflicts, extreme weather events and rising living costs are throwing the lives of many people around the world into disarray,” she said in a video. The aid “will support displaced communities across Africa, as well as the communities that host them”, von der Leyen said.