U.S. Announces More Than $240 Million for Catholic Relief Services Humanitarian Programs

By Amr Gohar

The United States has announced more than $240 million in humanitarian and disaster response assistance for Catholic Relief Services (CRS), a major faith-based humanitarian organization that operates in some of the world’s most challenging crisis zones. The announcement was made in Rome by State Department Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response Senior Bureau Official Ryan Shrum alongside U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch, U.S. Permanent Representative to UN Agencies in Rome Lynda Blanchard, CRS Vice President Jennifer Poidatz, and Caritas Internationalis Secretary General Alistair Dutton.

According to the U.S. State Department, the funding is the first in a series of global awards aimed at accelerating the delivery of life-saving assistance through trusted humanitarian organizations. The initiative is designed to allow implementing partners to respond to emergencies within 24 hours while reducing administrative burdens and improving accountability for U.S. taxpayer-funded aid.

CRS will use the funding to provide assistance across multiple sectors, including food security, nutrition, healthcare, water and sanitation, and shelter. The aid will support humanitarian operations in several countries facing severe crises, including Myanmar, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Nigeria, and Sudan.

State Department officials highlighted CRS’s extensive network of local partners, including more than 160 Caritas chapters worldwide, which helps ensure assistance reaches vulnerable populations quickly and effectively. The organization has previously demonstrated its ability to operate in difficult political environments, including disaster response efforts in Cuba through local partnerships.

Part of the funding will establish a global rapid response fund that will allow CRS to immediately activate its local networks and deliver emergency assistance following natural disasters or sudden humanitarian shocks. Officials said maintaining readily available funding will enable aid workers to bypass lengthy procurement processes and respond more rapidly to urgent needs.

The State Department said it is coordinating closely with CRS, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and other implementing partners to ensure aid is delivered efficiently while avoiding duplication of efforts.

Officials also described the award as a reflection of the administration’s commitment to partnering with faith-based organizations that have demonstrated a proven ability to deliver humanitarian assistance in some of the world’s most difficult environments.

The State Department said it expects continued collaboration with CRS, OCHA, and other humanitarian organizations as part of a broader effort to create a faster, more accountable, and locally driven model of international humanitarian assistance.