Humanitarian Aid Shift for Germany: NGO Centers on Gaza, Sudan, and Syria Crises
In a pessimistic report for 2024, Deutsche Welthungerhilfe (WHH) warns of a worsening global hunger crisis, with Sudan and Gaza among the regions facing severe humanitarian crises.
Sudan:
Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in violent conflict, pushing parts of the country into famine conditions. Nearly 25 million people face acute hunger, and confirmed famine has been reported in ten areas. Over 11 million people have been displaced internally or fled abroad, making it the largest displacement crisis globally. Essential infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and water sources, has been destroyed, severely disrupting public health services and spreading diseases.
The humanitarian funding for Sudan’s 2025 response appeal of approximately $4.2 billion is critically underfunded, with only about 14% provided. Cuts from major donors such as the United States have worsened the funding shortfall. Efforts are ongoing to support returnees restoration of services like health, water, power, and education, but the situation remains fragile and urgent to prevent further suffering.
Gaza:
Since the conflict that began in April 2023, Gaza, with a population of about two million, has faced a severe humanitarian crisis amid ongoing violence and blockade conditions. More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed, and over 125,000 injured since late 2023, with many displaced and deprived of sufficient food, water, and medical care.
Chronic malnutrition is rising due to severe food shortages from restricted aid delivery and infrastructure damage. International agencies are calling for ceasefires and adherence to humanitarian law to allow safe delivery of aid, but access remains extremely restricted. Gaza’s humanitarian situation is also worsened by damage to infrastructure and scarcity of resources essential for survival.
The Impact of Reduced Funding:
Increased chronic malnutrition and reduced funding severely hamper humanitarian responses, resulting in dire food insecurity, worsening health outbreaks, and escalating death tolls. The international community’s insufficient funding and ongoing conflict dynamics critically limit relief efforts, risking further deterioration of these humanitarian crises.
Germany is set to reduce its foreign ministry's humanitarian emergency aid to only €1 billion in the 2025 draft budget. This reduction, along with similar cuts from the United States and other major donors, could worsen the situation.
Welthungerhilfe's Efforts:
WHH, with projects in 37 countries and a budget of around €384 million ($452 million) in 2024, has been actively involved in both crises. In Aleppo, WHH began supporting bakeries to help feed 40,000 residents, and in Sudan, WHH has established a proactive humanitarian aid system to respond faster to crises, wars, and climate change consequences.
WHH President Marlehn Thieme warns that budget cuts lead to loss of lives. Just under €87 million of WHH's budget came through donations in 2024. Approximately 15 million people in Syria lack nutrition.
The humanitarian situations in Sudan and Gaza are both severe, characterized by rising chronic malnutrition, large-scale displacement, and critical reduction in humanitarian funding, exacerbating food insecurity and health crises. The international community must act urgently to provide adequate funding and support to alleviate these crises and prevent further loss of life.
- The global government's lack of funding for Sudan's 2025 response appeal is critically underfunded, leading to a more severe humanitarian crisis.
- In Europe, similar cuts from major donors like the United States have worsened the funding shortfall in Sudan.
- society is urgently needed to prevent further suffering and restore services in Sudan, where over 11 million people have been displaced.
- The violent conflict in Sudan has pushed parts of the country into famine conditions, affecting nearly 25 million people.
- The ongoing conflict in Gaza has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, with over 125,000 Palestinians injured and many deprived of medical care.
- The international community should act urgently to provide adequate funding and support to alleviate the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
- Environmental science and climate change have contributed to the consequences that WHH is addressing in Sudan, where they have established a proactive humanitarian aid system.
- The European and global news outlets have reported on the worsening global hunger crisis, with Sudan and Gaza among the regions facing severe humanitarian crises.
- WHH, active in 37 countries, warns that budget cuts lead to loss of lives and just under €87 million of WHH's budget came through donations in 2024.
- The consequences of climate change, chronic malnutrition, and lack of nutrition are escalating death tolls in Sudan and Gaza, compounding the issues of displacement and food insecurity.
- In Sudan and Gaza, chronic diseases like malnutrition are rising due to strict aid delivery and infrastructure damage, exacerbating health crises.
- Mental health is also a critical issue in Gaza, where ongoing violence and blockade conditions have resulted in high stress levels and psychological trauma for the population.
