The German Red Cross (DRK) has voiced sharp criticism regarding proposed cuts to humanitarian aid measures. Christoph Johnen, Head of International Cooperation at DRK, told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” that reducing funding for humanitarian assistance would be “irresponsible and a mistake, impacting the most vulnerable people in greatest need.
The current draft budget from the governing coalition envisions a decrease in the humanitarian aid budget from approximately €2.2 billion to just over €1 billion. This represents a reduction of roughly 52% compared to 2024 levels.
Johnen emphasized the urgent need for increased, rather than decreased, funding, citing cuts already implemented by other nations, alongside a rise in both armed conflicts and extreme weather events. He warned that diminishing resources for those most in need would be detrimental.
The DRK representative expressed concern that such significant cuts would damage Germany’s international reputation and erode trust. He urged the German parliamentarians to reconsider the proposed changes, referencing a prior commitment outlined in the coalition agreement, where both the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Social Democratic Party (SPD) had initially pledged to strengthen humanitarian aid efforts.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in 1970, encouraging developed nations to allocate 0.7% of their Gross National Income towards development assistance. This target was subsequently incorporated into the UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. Germany has only achieved this commitment five times since 2023.