Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.
European Commission's department for overseas humanitarian aid and for civil protection
Belgian High Fens Wildfire Largest on Record
The EU mobilized helicopters, water-bombing aircraft, and ground forces from Czech Republic, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Germany to fight Belgium’s Hautes-Fagnes wildfire, now the largest on record at about 1,600 hectares, triggering evacuations and tourist advisories. Authorities say climate-change–driven heatwaves are creating conditions for faster, longer-burning fires as the emergency response continues across the region.
Environment · 116 sources · Aug 18, 2026Read itThe journal
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About Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations
The Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, formerly known as the European Community Humanitarian Aid Office, is the European Commission's department for overseas humanitarian aid and for civil protection. It aims to save and preserve life, prevent and alleviate human suffering and safeguard the integrity and dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises. Since December 2024, Hadja Lahbib is serving as Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality in the Von der Leyen Commission, and since 1 March 2023, Maciej Popowski leads the organisation as the Director-General.
Everything about Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations →- Country
- Belgium
- Inception
- 1992
- Website
- https://ec.europa.eu/echo/index_en, https://ec.europa.eu/echo/index_fr, https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/