Following severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall in northern Iraq earlier this month, the European Union has allocated €100,000 in humanitarian funding to support communities most affected by the disaster. The assistance aims to address urgent needs arising from widespread damage to homes, livelihoods, and essential services.
The EU funding is being channelled through the Iraqi Red Crescent Society to deliver emergency assistance, including essential household items, food support, winter supplies, hygiene materials, cash assistance, and basic health and water services. This support is designed to help families cope with immediate needs during the winter period and begin stabilising their living conditions.
More than 16,000 people are expected to directly benefit from the humanitarian assistance. The funding forms part of the European Union’s broader contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which enables rapid responses to sudden-onset emergencies.
Between 9 and 12 December 2025, intense rainfall triggered flash floods across several northern Iraqi governorates, including Sulaymaniyah, Kirkuk, Erbil, and Nineveh. The floods damaged hundreds of homes and public facilities, forced families to evacuate, and left many without adequate shelter, food, or access to basic services, further exacerbating existing economic vulnerabilities and harsh winter conditions.
As the world’s leading humanitarian aid donor, the European Union provides relief assistance as an expression of solidarity with people affected by natural disasters and crises worldwide. Its humanitarian support focuses on saving lives, reducing suffering, and protecting human dignity through needs-based assistance.
Through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department, the European Union supports millions of people affected by conflicts and disasters each year. Working through a global network of field offices and trusted humanitarian partners, the EU delivers aid to the most vulnerable populations based on impartial humanitarian principles.
The European Union is a signatory to a €16 million humanitarian delegation agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to support the Disaster Response Emergency Fund. Established in 1979, the fund enables National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to access rapid financial support for small-scale disasters, with donor contributions replenishing the fund to ensure continued emergency response capacity.
