On Wednesday 19 August 2026, Luxembourg marked World Humanitarian Day by reaffirming its commitment to protecting civilians and humanitarian workers and supporting populations affected by crises worldwide.
The international day, observed each year on 19 August, pays tribute to those who assist people affected by conflicts, natural disasters and health crises. This year, the Luxembourg authorities also highlighted the growing need to protect humanitarian workers amid an unprecedented number of attacks against them.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), since the beginning of 2026, 82 humanitarian workers have been killed, 97 injured and 39 abducted worldwide.
Against a backdrop of increasing humanitarian needs and what the government described as an unprecedented funding crisis affecting the international humanitarian system, Luxembourg has continued to support humanitarian action based on humanitarian principles, respect for international humanitarian law (IHL), innovation and predictable funding for its partners.
So far in 2026, the country has mobilised nearly €42 million in humanitarian aid across 37 countries. The funding has supported underfunded crises in Yemen, Myanmar, South Sudan and Burkina Faso, as well as major crises in Sudan, Gaza and Ukraine, including through humanitarian demining operations.
Furthermore, Luxembourg has strengthened its support for humanitarian partners operating in the Middle East and Sudan, which the government described as currently the world's most severe humanitarian crisis.
The country has also contributed to responses to recent health emergencies, including Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, through support for an emergency appeal by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Beyond financial assistance, Luxembourg has continued its operational humanitarian activities through emergency.lu. In 2026, the country deployed relief supplies for displaced populations in Lebanon, including emergency shelters, sleeping mats and cooking kits, and provided family tents in north-eastern Syria for households exposed to flood risks.
Following the earthquakes that struck Venezuela in June 2026, Luxembourg carried out what the government described as one of the largest deployments in the history of emergency.lu. Seven Luxembourg experts were mobilised, including specialists tasked with restoring emergency communications in affected areas, while tents and generators were also delivered to local populations.
Luxembourg has also continued to promote innovation in humanitarian action. In partnership with the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), projects involving the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), OCHA and the World Food Programme (WFP) are using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve disaster forecasting, rapidly assess damage following crises and anticipate forced population displacement.
In 2026, Luxembourg also launched a new partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to develop a framework for the responsible use of AI in humanitarian action.
Moreover, the Competence Hub on Digital Governance in Crisis-Affected Regions, led by the University of Luxembourg Institute for Digital Ethics (ULIDE), is set to strengthen research into digital governance, responsible artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and data protection in crisis situations.
As in 2025, Luxembourg also raised concern about increasing violations of international humanitarian law. The government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting civilians and humanitarian and medical personnel and to upholding the Geneva Conventions.
As a longstanding partner of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Humanitarian Law Compliance Monitoring Database (ICMD), as well as a supporter of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), Luxembourg continues to contribute to international efforts aimed at strengthening compliance with international humanitarian law, including in relation to challenges posed by new technologies in armed conflicts.
The government called on all parties to conflicts to fully respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, guarantee safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access and combat impunity for violations committed against civilians and humanitarian personnel.
