The European Union supports the flood response in Honduras with €150.000.
Tegucigalpa, 23 July 2025 – In response to the recent floods in Honduras, the European Union (EU) has allocated €150,000 (approximately 4.59 million lempiras) in humanitarian funding to assist the most affected people. The aid will directly benefit 5,000 people in the community of Ocotepeque, which was particularly affected by the heavy rains.
In June, heavy rains in the department of Ocotepeque caused floods and landslides that damaged homes, crops, and public infrastructure. In particular, damage to water supply systems left thousands of people without access to safe drinking water.
The EU funding will enable the Honduran Red Cross to provide emergency assistance to those affected. The response includes the distribution of drinking water, water purification supplies, and hygiene kits. Actions will also be carried out to prevent diseases transmitted through contaminated water and mosquitoes.
The funding is part of the EU's global contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Background
The European Union and its Member States are the world’s leading donors of humanitarian aid. Emergency aid is an expression of European solidarity with people in need around the world. Its goal is to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and preserve the integrity and dignity of populations affected by natural and man-made disasters.
Through the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), the European Union helps millions of victims of conflicts and disasters each year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the European Union provides aid to the most vulnerable people based on humanitarian needs.
The European Union maintains a €12 million humanitarian funding agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support its Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF). This fund was established in 1979 and is composed of financial contributions from various donors. Whenever a national Red Cross or Red Crescent society needs immediate financial support to respond to a disaster, it can request resources from the DREF, which may later be reimbursed by donors. The agreement between the IFRC and the European Commission allows for post-operation reimbursements (in line with its humanitarian mandate), up to a total of €12 million.