On the occasion of World Humanitarian Day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted yesterday Spain’s commitment to international humanitarian action, which is reflected in a 115% increase in the budget allocated to the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) since 2021, which has risen from 65.6 million to 140.2 million euros.
This effort takes place in a context where more than 239 million people worldwide require humanitarian assistance, according to United Nations data.
Spain, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, continues to strengthen its response capacity to humanitarian crises. In 2025, AECID supported 131 humanitarian interventions, and has already backed 72 so far in 2026, including responses to recent earthquakes in Venezuela and Colombia. Spain’s total humanitarian aid budget reached 225.6 million euros in 2025, a 24% increase from the previous year.
Spanish humanitarian action has strengthened its capacities in recent years, highlighting the approval of a new Statute for AECID and the formation of a cooperation agreement involving 15 autonomous communities. In 2026, Spain would assume the co-presidency of the Donor Advisory Group of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which reinforces its influence in humanitarian action forums. AECID has channeled most of its funding through the UN and other organizations, emphasizing its commitment to critical areas such as education in emergencies and food security in crisis-affected regions.
