The United States has announced more than $240 million in humanitarian and disaster-response funding for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to support vulnerable populations affected by conflicts, disease outbreaks, natural disasters and food insecurity across several countries, including Nigeria.

The funding package, unveiled by the U.S. Department of State on Friday, marks the first in a new series of global humanitarian awards aimed at accelerating emergency assistance to crisis-hit communities around the world.

The announcement was made in Rome by Ryan Shrum, Senior Bureau Official of the State Department’s Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response, alongside senior U.S. diplomats and humanitarian leaders.

According to the State Department, the initiative is designed to ensure that life-saving assistance can be deployed within 24 hours of a disaster or emergency, significantly reducing delays often associated with traditional funding mechanisms.

The support will enable Catholic Relief Services to provide assistance across multiple sectors, including food security, nutrition, healthcare, water and sanitation, shelter, and other critical humanitarian services.

Nigeria is among the countries expected to benefit from the intervention, alongside Burma, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Haiti and Sudan, all of which continue to face significant humanitarian challenges.Nigerian News Aggregator

The U.S. government said the funding would strengthen CRS’s capacity to respond rapidly to both sudden disasters and protracted emergencies through its extensive network of local and international partners.

A portion of the funding will also support a global rapid-response fund, allowing humanitarian teams to immediately mobilise resources and deliver aid without waiting for lengthy procurement and approval processes.

Officials noted that CRS works through more than 160 Caritas chapters worldwide, enabling relief materials and services to reach vulnerable populations even in difficult and politically sensitive environments.

The State Department said the latest funding complements the U.S. government’s broader humanitarian efforts, including the $3.8 billion in assistance channelled through the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Ebola remains a major public health concern, CRS is already supporting response efforts. The new funding is expected to strengthen ongoing disease-control activities while addressing other humanitarian needs in affected communities.

U.S. officials said the initiative reflects Washington’s commitment to making humanitarian assistance faster, more efficient and more accountable, while leveraging trusted organisations with proven track records in crisis response.