U.S. Provides More than $240 Million in Humanitarian Aid
The United States State Department has announced more than $240 million in humanitarian and disaster response funding for Catholic Relief Services (CRS). The announcement was made in Rome by senior U.S. officials alongside representatives from CRS and Caritas Internationalis.
The funding is designed to support rapid emergency response. Through a network of more than 160 local Caritas partners, CRS can begin delivering assistance within 24 hours of a crisis, helping communities affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, or natural disasters. For example, after Hurricane Melissa, CRS worked through local partners in Cuba to ensure aid reached people in need.
A second focus is providing essential humanitarian services. The funding will support food assistance, healthcare, clean water, sanitation, and emergency shelter for vulnerable families. Sudan is among the countries expected to benefit from the first round of support.
The initiative also strengthens local partnerships. By working through trusted community organizations already operating on the ground, CRS can reach people more quickly and efficiently, even in difficult environments.
In addition, part of the funding will support a global rapid response mechanism, allowing CRS to act immediately when emergencies occur instead of waiting for new funding approvals, and partnerships including Caritas organizations will help deliver assistance.
U.S. officials said the program complements existing support through the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and aims to make humanitarian aid faster, more accountable, and more locally driven. The initiative also highlights the important role faith-based organizations play in delivering life-saving assistance around the world.
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10th June 2026