On March 11th 2026, Global Health Advocates, Save the Children, Medecins du Monde, and CARE International addressed an open letter to CommissionerHadja Lahbib calling for the European Union to keep nutrition at the heart of the EU’s humanitarian response.
While the EU seeks to reform the global humanitarian system, this letter emphasises that nutrition is an integral part of effective aid.
We are currently witnessing unprecedented nutritional crises in fragile and conflict-affected regions driven by armed conflict, climate change, and the collapse of essential services.
We believe that the EU’s response must not only be rapid but also sustained by predictable, long-term funding to prevent millions of avoidable deaths.
In the letter addressed to Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, the signatories highlight that the solutions to address these crises are known and proven to be effective, such as facilitating access to nutritional interventions such as ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) which achieve recovery rates of close to 90% at an average 45€ per child (UNICEF) and investing in prevention to reduce future humanitarian needs.
By placing nutrition at the heart of its humanitarian policy, the EU can move from reactive “crisis management” to building a foundation for sustainable development and global stability.
You can read the full Letter here.
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