Finland continues life-saving humanitarian assistance: about one fifth of support goes to Ukraine
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland
18.8.2025 Press releases
Finland's decisions on humanitarian assistance this year have prioritised support to Ukraine, major refugee crises in Africa and the humanitarian situation in the Middle East. The number of people in need of assistance continues to grow. By the end of July, Finland had provided a total of approximately EUR 97.5 million in vital humanitarian assistance in 2025, nearly EUR 18 million of it to Ukraine.
Finland has also provided funding, among other countries, for Sudan, where famine was detected last year, and for Myanmar for recovery from the earthquake. About one tenth of the assistance was channelled through humanitarian aid projects carried out by Finnish civil society organisations (CSOs).
Global humanitarian needs have been increasing for many years, yet the funding for the humanitarian system is seeing significant cuts. The global aid mechanism is facing rapid adjustments and reforms. Finland will continue to provide vital humanitarian assistance and support a reform of the system to ensure that aid will reach those most in need in future too.
"Over the next few months, Finland's humanitarian assistance this year will increase to over one hundred million euros. Finland focuses on flexible humanitarian funding that allows aid organisations to respond quickly to crises and the changed, unforeseen needs," says Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio.
Ukraine is the largest recipient of Finland's humanitarian assistance. Finland has granted EUR 16 million through UN humanitarian agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and nearly EUR 2 million through Finnish CSOs for Ukraine's humanitarian needs.
Deputy Head of the World Food Programme (WFP) Office in Ukraine Nanna Skau says:
"Since the start of the war, Finland's support through the WFP has been vital in ensuring that Ukraine, formerly also known as the breadbasket of Europe, is able to meet its own humanitarian needs. The situation remains serious, with five million Ukrainians suffering from food insecurity. With a growing number of internally displaced persons and moving front lines, the support Finland granted at the start of this year has allowed flexibility for the WFP to direct resources where there is most need. Finland's support contributed to the WFP being able to deliver cash and food assistance to 1.1 million Ukrainians in July alone."
Finland has also prioritised major refugee crises in Africa and the humanitarian situation in the Middle East in its funding decisions. Food insecurity is an increasingly widespread problem in countries such as Sudan, where famine was detected last year. Finland has provided over EUR 3.2 million in funding for the WFP's operation and Finnish CSO's projects in Sudan. In the Middle East, Finland has supported, among others, the WFP's and Finnish CSO's operations in Gaza with over EUR 3 million. Myanmar has been granted over EUR 4 million in funding for the country's humanitarian crisis and recovery from the earthquake, for example. The support has been channelled through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Finnish CSOs.
Finland has also provided a total of EUR 2 million in funding for the WFP's and the UN Refugee Agency's (UNHCR) work on disability inclusion. The aim is to help the organisations to assist persons with disabilities, who are often in the most vulnerable position but cannot always be reached. In addition, a total of EUR 4 million in humanitarian assistance has been granted for developing the WFP's school meals activities and supporting school meals, especially in Africa and the Middle East. Finland has also granted core funding to multilateral humanitarian organisations.
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