As Ukraine joins the list of countries facing barriers to humanitarian access, the EU must act now to ensure lifesaving aid reaches people in need

Brussels, Belgium, 18 March 2022 —  Across Ukraine millions of civilians face severe humanitarian needs as a result of the war that now impacts swaths of the country. In a matter of weeks, Ukrainians in cities previously unaffected by conflict have become accustomed to the reality of a global trend: the denial or restriction of humanitarian aid delivery. As European Member states gather for the European Humanitarian Forum, the International Rescue Committee calls for urgent action to address this alarming trend.
 
In 2022, a record 274 million people worldwide will need humanitarian assistance. When needs are so high, it is vital that humanitarians can access those affected by crises, yet barriers to humanitarian access are rapidly increasing. In 2021, the number of countries facing extreme access constraints more than doubled compared to late 2020, jumping from 4 to 11, according to humanitarian analysis group ACAPS.
 
Next week’s European Humanitarian Forum and European Council meeting - both being convened by the EU in Brussels - must be a turning point. The IRC is calling on the EU and its member states to provide leadership through robust humanitarian diplomacy to ensure aid can be delivered to people in need, and to catalyse efforts by the international community to respond to access barriers.
 
Harlem Desir, IRC Senior Vice President, Europe, said:
 
“The ongoing war in Ukraine highlights, yet again, the terrible toll paid by civilians when International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is violated with impunity. Last week, I met women and children on the Polish border who have experienced unthinkable trauma, including those who had been trapped by the fighting, denied access to humanitarian assistance, and had risked their lives to flee.
 
“While the Ukraine emergency brings these violations of IHL to Europe, the trends of civilian harm and denial of humanitarian access in conflict are global. The international community - led by the EU and its member states - must seize the opportunity of next week’s European Humanitarian Forum and European Council meeting to commit to prioritising efforts to promote and protect humanitarian access, placing humanitarian diplomacy at the forefront of EU external action.
 
“It is time for the EU to put a greater emphasis on political dialogue to promote and protect fundamental rights and IHL, and support the ability of humanitarians to access those in need. Combined with commitments to increase aid spending in conflict affected states, these efforts can provide a lifeline to people trapped in conflict across the globe.
 
“In the coming weeks, the international community will need to demonstrate principled humanitarian and diplomatic leadership, or the people of Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Ethiopia and beyond will tragically continue to pay the price.”
 
Harlem Desir will be speaking at the European Humanitarian Forum panel discussion on “Diplomacy for greater humanitarian diplomacy” on Tuesday 22nd March.