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In focus:

Humanitarian Assistance

Neuankommende Fluechtlinge im Registration Center Kakuma, Kenia
© picture alliance/Caro

Worldwide increasing numbers of people are reliant on humanitarian aid. How Germany helps and responds to new challenges.

Der ukrainische Präsident Wolodymyr Selenskyj (l) und Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz auf der Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz 2026. Ukraine
Four years of war in Ukraine
Germany continues to stand firmly by Ukraine’s side
For four years, Russia has been waging its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. Germany’s assistance is comprehensive - and remains indispensable.
Deutschland leistet den weltweit größten Beitrag zur Entwicklungszusammenarbeit. Development cooperation
Development policy
Development cooperation: Germany is the world’s biggest donor
According to provisional OECD figures for 2025, Germany is the world’s number one donor for the first time, having provided around 26 billion euros in public development funding.
Halo Trust arbeitet an der Beseitigung von Minen in Syrien Humanitarian assistance Landmine clearance The invisible threat
Every day, people in Syria are killed by explosives hidden in the ground. Germany is helping to remove the devices.

Quick facts

323 million people
around the world were in need of humanitarian assistance in 2024.
More than 50 countries
have so far received Germany’s help for removing mines and other ordnance.
2.25 billion euros
is the sum that Germany made available for humanitarian assistance in 2024.
3 regional focus areas
have currently been set for German humanitarian assistance: Middle East, Africa and Ukraine.
2025 hat die Bundesregierung bislang 35 Millionen Euro für humanitäre Hilfe in Südsudan bereitgestellt. Humanitarian assistance
South Sudan
Combating hunger, sack by sack
Securing the food supply, saving lives: Germany is one of the biggest donors of humanitarian aid and supports numerous organisations in South Sudan.
Kein Raum für Trauer: Diese Südsudanesin muss ihre verbliebenen Familienmitglieder versorgen. Humanitarian assistance
South Sudan
Where German help is changing lives
Armed conflicts, drought and flooding have plunged South Sudan into crisis. German projects provide food, water and protection.
Lebensmittel für Menschen in Südsudan: Deutschland ist einer der größten Geber humanitärer Hilfe in Südsudan. Humanitarian assistance in South Sudan
Africa
“Our goal is for people to survive”
Handing out food, building wells, saving human lives: this is how Germany provides humanitarian assistance to the population of South Sudan.
Truppenärztin Alexandra Dejonckheere in Mali The Federal Armed Forces:
International missions
Deployed as a doctor abroad in the Federal Armed Forces
Bundeswehr soldier Alexandra Dejonckheere is deployed with the Franco-German Brigade in France and accompanied the UN mission in Mali.
Ukrainischer Soldat bei einer Behandlung im März 2023 Ukraine Recovery Conference
Rehabilitation centre
Aid for civilian and military victims of war
People with severe injuries are treated at the rehabilitation centre “Unbroken” in Lviv, which also receives support from Germany.
Sahel Summit of the Future Development aid International alliance of helpers
Germany’s role in the Sahel Alliance – comprehensive support for a crisis region
2023 war das THW im Erdbebengebiet in der Türkei im Einsatz. Saving lives Volunteering Help for people in extreme situations
Saving lives, giving hope: Katharina Garrecht of the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) provides insights into her worldwide operations.
Helferinnen und Hefer bereiten Essen für Hungernde vor. Development cooperation
Humanitarian assistance
“Aid organisations are enormously effective all around the world”
Emergency aid expert Ralf Südhoff talks in an interview about the opportunities and possibilities of humanitarian aid and development cooperation.
Dr. Parnian Parvanta, Vorstandsvorsitzende von Ärzte ohne Grenzen Saving lives
Aid organisation
“I’m literally a doctor without borders”
Parnian Parvanta provides medical aid in crisis areas worldwide. An interview with the chair of the German section of Médecins Sans Frontières.
Jackson Nabaala arbeitete für die Welthungerhilfe in der Türkei. #BetterTogether
Humanitarian assistance
An aid networker
Jackson Nabaala has been working for Welthungerhilfe since 2006. In Lebanon, Syria and Turkey he searches for solutions amid complex conflicts.
Bundeskanzler Merz und Präsident Selenskyj Ukraine Supporting Ukraine against Russia How Germany is supporting Ukraine
Find out what Germany is doing to help the defensive war against the Russian aggressors.
Somalia Humanitarian assistance Accountability Alleviating crises around the world
Germany provides humanitarian aid to support millions of people, including in countries and regions that are not at the centre of media attention.
Airdrops sollen dringende Hilfe kurzfristig bereitstellen. Humanitarian assistance
Arab world
German aid for Gaza
Food, water, medical care and diplomatic efforts: Germany is supporting the people of Gaza by means of comprehensive measures.
Trauernde in einem Tsunami-Memorial-Park in Thailand 20 years of the tsunami disaster
Asia
Tsunami: how Germany provides both emergency and long-term aid
20 years ago, a tsunami in the Indian Ocean killed around 230,000 people. We present three projects that were initiated as a result.
TdT_14082023_Humanitäre Hilfe_Int Susanne Fries-Gaier Humanitarian assistance
Help from Germany
“People are the central focus”
Germany has been providing humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 50 years. Learn about the concrete help that is made available to people in crisis areas.
Video Video The Role of Humanitarian Assistance as Part of German Foreign Policy | Part 1
Video Video The Role of Humanitarian Assistance as Part of German Foreign Policy | Part 2
Germany is the second largest donor in terms of humanitarian assistance worldwide. How this helps the poorest of the poor is explained by Susanne Fries-Gaier, director of humanitarian assistance at Germany’s Federal Foreign Office.
HelpAge leistet in der Ukraine inklusive Nothilfe. Humanitarian assistance
Emergency aid
Support for senior citizens in Ukraine
Since 2014, the German organisation HelpAge has been supporting older people in Ukraine, as they need particular help in extreme emergency situations.
Im Fokus deutscher humanitärer Hilfe: Frauen in Krisengebieten Humanitarian assistance
Gender-sensitive humanitarian assistance
Better protecting women
Women and girls face a high risk of violence in emergency situations. Germany takes this into account in its humanitarian assistance.
Das Programm ToGETHER unterstützt Helfende vor Ort. Humanitarian assistance Localisation programme ToGETHER makes emergency aid better
How to organise humanitarian assistance efficiently – international helpers explain how a German programme supports their work.
Das Konzept der Lokalisierung bindet Akteure aus betroffenen Regionen ein. Humanitarian assistance Localisation programme “Local actors play a central role”
How is humanitarian assistance quickly delivered to those who need it? Maren Rahlf from Welthungerhilfe explains the localisation concept.
Millionen Menschen sind in Sudan in Not. Sudan
Africa
Humanitarian assistance in Sudan
24,7 Millionen Menschen in Sudan benötigen nach UN-Angaben humanitäre Hilfe. Katharina Lahr vom Norwegian Refugee Council erläutert, wie Deutschland hilft.
Oft fließt weniger Geld in die Regionen, die nicht im Fokus stehen.
Humanitarian aid
Crises that go unnoticed
In all regions of the world there are conflicts that attract virtually no public attention. This can have devastating consequences.
Kartoffelernte in Indien
Innovations for smallholder farmers
Green innovation centres are intended above all to strengthen smallholder agriculture in 16 partner countries in Africa and Asia.
Wasserentnahme in Äthiopien WASH network
“Human right to clean drinking water”
Johannes Rück from the German WASH network talks about the role played by international civil society in supplying water and sanitation.
UNHCR Hilfe Active commitment to helping refugees
Displacement and migration
Diverse help for refugees
From humanitarian aid on site to receiving refugees: Germany is committed to protecting refugees worldwide.
Schon 2015 halfen Wasser-Experten des THW nach dem Erdbeben in Nepal. UN Water Conference
Water supply following natural disasters
When Germany’s Federal Agency for Technical Relief goes into action following natural disasters, supplying water often plays an important role.
Helferinnen und Helfer sind weltweit im Einsatz “Volunteering keeps me down to earth”
Six women explain why and how they work in aid organisations in Germany and around the world.
Hochwasser in Dhaka: Neue Warnsysteme sollen Bangladesch helfen. Early warning systems save lives
Storms often become disasters when people are not warned in time. These projects aim to prevent that.
Digitalisierung hilft Farmern.
Forward-looking projects and emergency aid
In Germany, countless NGOs are committed to fighting hunger in the world. Here you can get to know three of the most important ones.
Heidi Anguria bei der Arbeit in Süd-Sudan.
“We can make a difference”
Paediatric nurse Heidi Anguria has been working for Médecins Sans Frontières all over the world for 30 years
Helfer des Technischen Hilfswerks sind im Libanon im Einsatz.
THW comes to Lebanon’s aid
In the wake of the disastrous explosion in Beirut, Germany’s Federal Agency for Technical Relief is providing support in the form of experts and equipment.
Deutschland engagiert sich seit mehr als 50 Jahren in den Vereinten Nationen.
United Nations
Germany’s commitment to the UN
Germany does its duty through the UN in many different ways, from providing humanitarian aid to participating in peacekeeping missions.
Fiona Bay arbeitet im Jemen für Ärzte ohne Grenzen Providing help in acute emergencies
She knows no fear: Fiona Bay is a nurse on an aid mission with Ärzte ohne Grenzen (doctors without borders) in Yemen. Here she describes her experiences.
Aktion Deutschland Hilft koordiniert Katastrophenhilfe Joining forces for better support
Responding to disasters with a great variety of aid from a united body: How Aktion Deutschland Hilft co-ordinates missions in crisis situations.
Facts about Germany
In an up-to-date, trustworthy and concise format, this handbook includes facts, figures and illustrations, to give readers a detailed introduction and insights into all aspects of life in modern Germany.
Facts about Germany
Tatsachen über Deutschland