The Union of European Nations and Their Constituent Countries
=====================================================================
Germany continues to play a significant role in international humanitarian aid, despite increasing tasks and decreasing resources. In 2024, the country was the second-largest donor of humanitarian aid worldwide, contributing 2.25 billion euros.
The German federal government works closely with various organizations, including the United Nations, UNICEF, the World Food Programme, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and numerous non-governmental organizations.
Germany's humanitarian aid currently focuses on three regions: the Middle East, Europe, and conflict areas in Africa. In the Middle East, Germany has provided around 335 million euros to the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly Gaza.
In Gaza, since August 2025, Germany has actively participated in humanitarian relief by airdropping food and medical supplies via the Bundeswehr’s two A400M transport aircraft as part of Jordan’s Operation “Solidarity Path” for three weeks. This effort supplements broader aid aimed at keeping functional hospitals running by providing equipment like patient monitors, defibrillators, blankets, and hygiene products. Germany also supports a field hospital staffed by specialists and funds organizations such as Oxfam and CARE for water desalination and treatment projects to secure clean drinking water and sanitation. Emergency shelters and tents are supplied to protect the many displaced due to extensive housing destruction (92% destroyed) in Gaza.
Politically, Germany continues diplomatic efforts urging Israel to allow safe and sufficient humanitarian land access to Gaza, emphasizing that airdrops can only partially alleviate suffering and that road access remains essential for sustained aid delivery. Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Foreign Minister Wadephul have publicly stressed these points. Germany's approach, while increasingly responsive to Gaza's humanitarian crisis, maintains its traditional policy of supporting Israel's security and promoting a two-state solution, unlike some European partners who have shifted toward recognizing Palestinian statehood in direct opposition to Israeli policies.
Regarding Ukraine, although recent detailed aid specifics were not found, Germany remains actively engaged in humanitarian support aligned with European and NATO efforts addressing the conflict's humanitarian fallout.
In Africa, German aid focuses on conflict zones with complex emergencies and displacement. While explicit program details from the search are limited, Germany is known to finance emergency shelters, basic equipment, and health services in African conflict zones analogous to its approach in Gaza. Additionally, Germany confirmed ongoing humanitarian support to Syria, signaling sustained commitment to war-affected populations beyond Gaza and Ukraine.
In summary, Germany’s aid paradigm balances rapid emergency relief (like airdrops in Gaza) with longer-term infrastructure support and diplomatic engagement to enable effective humanitarian access while navigating complex geopolitical relationships, particularly with Israel and its European partners. The country aims to make its participation in international aid effective and highly efficient through its "Strategy of the Federal Foreign Office for Humanitarian Assistance Abroad" announced in September 2024.
References: 1. Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung 2. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH 3. Deutsches Rotes Kreuz 4. Deutsche Welthungerhilfe 5. World Food Programme
