VOICE EU

🔴With at least 3,129 deaths and disappearances recorded in 2023 alone, the Mediterranean remains the deadliest route for migrants seeking safety. The situation has only worsened in 2024, leaving the international community grappling with a crisis that demands urgent attention and action. To address this issue, VOICE organised the event “The Mediterranean Sea: A Neglected Humanitarian Crisis?” to address the escalating #migration crisis unfolding in the region. One of the key concerns raised was the increasing death toll in the Mediterranean. The panellists emphasised that this is not just a migration issue but a #humanitarian crisis, which requires international recognition and support to prevent further loss of life. Another major topic of discussion was the criminalisation of Search and Rescue (SAR) #NGOs. The panellists stressed the importance of recognising SAR NGOs as humanitarian organisations rather than politically motivated actors since this recognition is crucial to ensuring their life-saving work can continue without obstruction. The discussions also highlighted the lack of political will in Europe to address the crisis effectively. Panellists called for stronger collaboration among NGOs and greater institutional support to tackle the Mediterranean crisis. The event concluded with a series of actionable recommendations, including the need for a UN OCHA Humanitarian Response Plan for the #Mediterranean, enhanced cooperation between humanitarian and SAR NGOs, and the exploration of new funding mechanisms to support rescue operations. As the Mediterranean crisis continues to claim lives, political inaction persists. The panel’s key recommendations emphasise the urgent need for the international community to acknowledge the severity of this humanitarian emergency. It is crucial to take decisive action, providing the necessary support and funding to prevent further loss of life. 🔽Read the full report here🔽 Sergio Cecchini, Sophie Beau, Giuseppe Caccia, Vincent Cochetel, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), SOS MEDITERRANEE France, MEDITERRANEA Saving Humans, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, Médecins du Monde

🌍Thank you to everyone who joined our conversation with Dr. Hugo Slim yesterday on the newly launched "Humanitarianism 2.0 – New Ethics for the Climate Emergency." We explored how #humanitarian action must evolve to tackle the climate emergency, and Dr. Slim shared key insights from his latest book, advocating for an "all-life" approach that addresses both human and #environmental suffering. Special thanks to Maria Groenewald, VOICE Director, and Noreen Gumbo, Head of Humanitarian Projects at Trócaire, for enriching the discussion with their questions and perspectives.

📢Almost a year after the escalation of violence in #Gaza, the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, with devastating consequences for civilians. Since October 2023, over 41,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, including more than 11,000 children, and the situation is rapidly deteriorating in the region. Humanitarian workers are also at risk, with more than 280 having been killed while trying to provide aid to those in need. The obstruction of #humanitarian access has left over two million people without essential supplies like food, water, and healthcare. As the leading European network of humanitarian #NGOs, VOICE calls on the European Union and its Member States to take decisive diplomatic action to ensure the protection of civilians, uphold International Humanitarian Law (#IHL), and guarantee unimpeded humanitarian access in Gaza. The time to act is now! 🔽Read our full statement here

📢 Today, VOICE Director Maria Groenewald intervened at the European Parliament's Development Committee, urging swift and decisive action in the face of growing #humanitarian needs, with over 300 million people in need. As highlighted in the 2024 Global Humanitarian Overview, $49 billion is needed to assist 187 million people, yet only 30% of the necessary #funding has been secured so far, creating a significant funding gap. Maria’s key points focused on the need for: 🔴Predictable, multi-year, flexible funding that is needs-based and not influenced by political or economic interests. 🔴Ensuring humanitarian funding remains separate from development funding in the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). Europe’s commitment to principled humanitarian action—outlined in the Lisbon Treaty and reaffirmed through the #European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid—must continue to be a cornerstone of its global leadership!

🔴Almost one year since the escalation of the #Gaza crisis, the humanitarian situation has reached catastrophic levels... Ongoing bombardments and ground operations have left over 40,000 Palestinians dead, including more than 11,000 children. Vital infrastructure, such as hospitals and water systems, has been decimated, and #humanitarian access remains severely obstructed, with 83% of essential food aid blocked, leaving nearly half a million people at risk of starvation. 🔗 Explore more about the situation and how #VOICE members are advocating for principled humanitarian aid amidst this crisis. Read our latest updates and reactions from VOICE members here: https://lnkd.in/eKJRRM2u

👏Congratulations Hadja Lahbib on your nomination as Commissioner for Preparedness Crisis Management and Equality! As the leading network of 90 European NGOs delivering principled #humanitarian action worldwide, we stand ready to collaborate with you! While we acknowledge the priorities outlined in the mission letter, we would like to highlight a few key areas that need further attention: 🔴Expanding space for principled humanitarian action 🔴Closing the funding gap to reach more communities in need 🔴Addressing the rising number of conflicts and climate-related disasters 🔽Find more in our Policy Resolution where we call on the #EU and Member States to take a stand and pledge for humanitarian action! https://lnkd.in/eDQ4Y8cV

🚨 New data reveals that 83% of food aid is being blocked from reaching #Gaza, pushing nearly half a million people to the brink of starvation. 15 aid organisations, including several VOICE members, are urgently calling for international action to address the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza. The blockade, which has now lasted almost a year, has led to severe shortages of food, medicine, and essential supplies, leaving the entire population facing hunger, disease, and extreme vulnerability. Key findings: 🔴83% of food aid is being blocked from entering Gaza. 🔴Over 50,000 children are at risk of severe malnutrition by the end of the year. 🔴Only 17 of 36 hospitals in Gaza are still partially operational. 🔴1.87 million people are in desperate need of shelter, with 60% of homes damaged or destroyed. As attacks intensify and aid remains systematically obstructed, #humanitarian workers continue to risk their lives to provide critical support. Aid must never be politicised, and immediate international pressure is needed to ensure a #ceasefire, an end to aid obstruction, and compliance with international humanitarian law. 🔽Read the full joint press release here: https://lnkd.in/dtJdVUph CARE Save the Children International Save the Children Europe ActionAid Christian Aid War Child War Child Nederland Islamic Relief Worldwide Oxfam Oxfam EU office Folkekirkens Nødhjælp (DanChurchAid) Norwegian Church Aid / Kirkens Nødhjelp Danish Refugee Council / Dansk Flygtningehjælp Norwegian Refugee Council

📢 This #InternationalDemocracyDay, civil society calls on #EU leaders to take decisive actions to foster a vibrant civic space, uphold democracy and safeguard fundamental rights. The open letter #EUCivicSpaceNow, co-signed by VOICE and initiated by Civil Society Europe convenes 416 civil society organisations —from 26 Member States and 4 EU candidate countries— and is addressed to the upcoming Polish, Danish, and Cypriot Presidencies of the Council of the European Union, as well as the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Parliament. The letter outlines concrete actions to promote democracy, enable, support and protect civil society, strengthen civil dialogue and protect human rights amid growing concerns over the erosion of democracy in the EU. Specifically, it calls for prioritising: 1️⃣ A European Civil Society Strategy 2️⃣ A strong mandate for a Commission Vice President responsible for democracy, civic space and civil dialogue 3️⃣ The adoption of a Civil Dialogue Agreement 4️⃣ Empowering funding policies 5️⃣ A European Democracy Semester 6️⃣ A stronger role of the Fundamental Rights Agency 🔽Read the letter, share, and support the cause!

🙏 Yesterday, together with CONCORD and the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO) we organised the Meet and Sip reception at the European Parliament! It was an evening full of discussions that reaffirmed the importance of collaboration between civil society and the #EU in tackling humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding challenges worldwide. Special thanks to Udo Bullman for hosting us, to Barry Andrews MEP for his intervention and support, as well as to all MEPs, parliamentary assistants, and participants who joined us at the Meet and Sip reception yesterday! We look forward to working closely with all of you in this new EU term to continue advancing and promoting principled humanitarian aid and ensuring that needs-based, impartial support reaches those affected by crises around the world. #MEPsMeetCSOs #HumanitarianAid #Development #Peacebuilding

✳️Meet and Sip with key voices of European Civil Society! If you are an MEP or a Parliamentary assistant, join VOICE EU, CONCORD and European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO) on 11 September to discuss humanitarian ,development and peace building matters! Click here to register ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eZAz_CJg