The European Union has released €200,000 in emergency humanitarian assistance to Liberia as thousands of people struggle to recover from devastating floods and landslides that destroyed homes, disrupted livelihoods and heightened health risks across several parts of the country.
The emergency funding will support the Liberian National Red Cross Society in providing critical assistance to 6,125 people in five of the counties hardest hit by the late-August disaster.
According to the EU, the intervention will cover 487 households in Montserrado County, 214 in Nimba, 214 in Bong, 128 in Grand Cape Mount and 182 in Grand Bassa.
Also, the assistance comes after intense and prolonged rainfall between August 19 and 26, 2026, overwhelmed local infrastructure and triggered severe flooding and landslides, including in the capital, Monrovia.
Beyond the destruction of homes and livelihoods, the flooding has increased concerns about outbreaks of waterborne and vector-borne diseases, including cholera and malaria, particularly in communities struggling with poor sanitation and stagnant floodwaters.
The EU-backed operation will focus on immediate humanitarian needs while helping affected families begin recovering from the disaster. Support will include multi-purpose cash assistance, shelter recovery and health interventions.
The response will also incorporate protection, gender and inclusion measures, community engagement and accountability, as well as preparedness activities designed to reduce the impact of future flooding. Priority will be given to families whose homes were destroyed, people displaced by the disaster and households that lost their sources of livelihood.
Special attention will also be directed toward vulnerable groups, including children, elderly people, persons with disabilities, pregnant and lactating women, and low-income households with limited capacity to recover independently.
The €200,000 allocation forms part of the European Union’s broader contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) managed by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Furthermore, the DREF provides rapid financial assistance to national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies when disasters strike, allowing humanitarian organizations to respond quickly before affected communities face worsening conditions.
The European Commission has signed a €16 million humanitarian delegation agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to support the DREF and strengthen rapid responses to emergencies around the world.
Established in 1979, the DREF allows national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies to request immediate financial support following disasters, with the IFRC allocating grants that are subsequently replenished through donor contributions.
The EU said the latest intervention demonstrates its continued commitment to supporting Liberian communities affected by sudden disasters and ensuring that vulnerable families can meet their most urgent humanitarian needs. Also, the intervention is expected to provide immediate relief while strengthening the ability of flood-prone communities to prepare for and withstand future emergencies.
