Humanitarian aid removed for 5.2 million individuals due to budget contraction, as per Diakonie report - Humanitarian aid discontinued for 5.2 million individuals, as stated by Diakonie
In a stark warning, Bundestag member Dagmar Pruin highlighted the preventable suffering worldwide due to reduced humanitarian aid budgets. This concern is echoed by Diakonie, a German social welfare organisation, which criticised the planned cuts as "irresponsible" and a "fatal step."
Last year, Diakonie approved a total of 89 projects in 37 countries, investing 79.9 million euros in collaboration with its global partner organisations, primarily focused on Africa. The organisation's annual report revealed that 90% of its expenses went into program work, around 5% each into administration and advertising. In 2024, Diakonie's total expenses were just under 89 million euros.
However, the global humanitarian landscape is far from rosy. The Foreign Office plans to save around one billion euros from humanitarian aid in the current year, a move that is causing widespread distress. Hunger and medical shortages are on the rise due to these cutbacks, exacerbating existing crises in various regions.
The impact of these cuts is particularly severe in conflict zones like Sudan and Syria. More than 16 million people in Syria need help, according to Martin Keßler, head of Diakonie Disaster Aid. In Sudan, around 25 million people are currently affected by acute hunger. The dissolution of USAID on July 1, 2025, has contributed to the global aid gap, with the US foreign aid funding slashed from an average of $51.4 billion annually to $13 billion.
These cuts have had dire consequences. Less than 17% of the $46 billion humanitarian funding need for 2025 has been met, a 40% decrease compared to last year. Agencies such as UNHCR estimate that 12.8 million displaced persons risk losing vital health services, and millions more may miss food aid, further exacerbating malnutrition and starvation, especially among children.
Diakonie Disaster Aid reports improved access to humanitarian aid and working conditions for aid organisations in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime. However, the organisation emphasises that much more needs to be done to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The draft budget for humanitarian aid needs approval from the Bundestag, and the situation remains uncertain for millions of people in need of aid, including two million in the Gaza Strip. Donation income for Diakonie was 30 million euros last year, a testament to the public's commitment to supporting humanitarian causes.
Pruin further criticised the international community for failing to provide adequate aid in countries such as Sudan, Myanmar, Nigeria, and Ukraine. As the global community grapples with these challenges, organisations like Diakonie continue to advocate for increased humanitarian aid, emphasising the need to prevent preventable suffering and alleviate the global humanitarian crisis.
[1] Global Humanitarian Overview 2023 [2] The Impact of US Aid Cuts on Global Humanitarian Crises [3] UNHCR: Millions at Risk of Losing Aid Amidst Global Funding Crisis [4] The End of USAID: Implications for Global Health and Development
- In light of the planned policy cuts on humanitarian aid, Bundestag member Dagmar Pruin advocates for increased global community policy, emphasizing the need to prevent preventable suffering and alleviate the ongoing global humanitarian crisis.
- The reduction in humanitarian aid budgets has shed light on the politics surrounding policy-and-legislation, as agencies like Diakonie voice their concerns about the impact of these cuts on general-news, particularly in conflict zones and areas like Sudan and Syria.
