Emergency Meeting called for at the Chancellery by Humanitarian Groups over the Critical Condition in Gaza
Thirteen humanitarian organizations, including Welthungerhilfe, have urged Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz to convene a humanitarian crisis summit for Gaza, highlighting the urgent need to address the escalating crisis. The situation in Gaza is critical, with over 500,000 people living in famine-like conditions, and every third person going without food for days.
Welthungerhilfe, one of the largest private aid organizations in Germany, has been actively involved in the ongoing crisis, working to alleviate the suffering of hundreds of thousands of people facing starvation. The organization, which was established in 1962, follows the principle of empowering people to help themselves to sustainably improve their living conditions. It collaborates with national and international partner organizations on its projects.
The organizations report on malnourished children, exhausted staff, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and attacks on medical personnel and hospitals in Gaza. Despite these challenges, the infrastructure for large-scale aid delivery exists in Gaza, and relief supplies are available.
In response to the call, the German government has taken several steps. Chancellor Merz has publicly stated the necessity of a ceasefire in Gaza and emphasized the urgent need for aid deliveries to reach civilians safely and fully. He has communicated directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stress this point and insisted that Israel must significantly improve the catastrophic humanitarian situation.
Germany has also supported coordinated international aid operations like the planned airlift, which is to be carried out in cooperation with Jordan, France, and the United Kingdom. This operation, announced in late July 2025, aims to deliver aid to Gaza.
Moreover, Germany supports independent and impartial humanitarian aid work by the United Nations and other organizations in Gaza. However, the government has criticized certain aid distribution efforts for failing to meet humanitarian principles and adequately reach civilians, underlining Germany’s commitment to ensuring aid effectiveness and investigating incidents where civilians were harmed during aid distribution.
In conclusion, the German government is responding to the call by supporting coordinated international aid operations, advocating for a ceasefire, pushing for humanitarian access, and scrutinizing the adequacy and safety of aid delivery mechanisms on the ground. Donations to Welthungerhilfe can help provide aid in the most affected areas, including the current crisis in Gaza.
- In light of the ongoing crises in Gaza, politics and general news must address the urgent need for development cooperation, as highlighted by the urgent call for a humanitarian crisis summit by thirteen organizations, including Welthungerhilfe.
- The escalating situation in Gaza, marked by war-and-conflicts and starvation, underscores the importance of crime-and-justice in investigating incidents where civilians were harmed during aid distribution, ensuring the safety and adequacy of aid delivery mechanisms.
