1.8 billion euros for humanitarian aid projects, in the last year alone – So that Germany has become the world’s second-largest donor. Details announced a yet to be decided government report.
Federal development Minister Gerd Müller’s Erbil from Germany returned refugee children in Iraq
Humanitarian assistance is increasingly necessary. This Trend is from a government report on humanitarian aid abroad from 2014 to 2017, be read, to adopt the Cabinet of Ministers on Wednesday. According to a report in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) supported Germany in the years 2014 to 2017, and foreign aid agencies of the United Nations and the red cross movement, with almost four billion euros. Alone in 2017, Berlin provided € 1.8 billion for humanitarian aid projects.
The umbrella organisation of development policy and humanitarian non-governmental organisations, VENRO, the cheering stops still in limits: “of Course, no champagne popping cork,” says VENRO Chairman of the Board Bernd Bornhorst, MISEREOR, in an interview with DW. The increased funds were “an expression of the commitment of the Federal government, but, unfortunately, also reects the fact that the aid will be increasingly necessary in a world in which we are with a growing number of disasters faced.”
Crisis in Syria and Africa in focus
Because the Bundestag was due to the growing demand of “continuously more funds available, Germany was not able to triple its humanitarian aid compared to the previous reporting period 2010 to 2013 more than tripled”, – quotes the FAZ from the government report. The focus of the crisis in Syria and the famine in Africa. Particularly strong spending in 2016 and 2017 were increased, so after the mass escape from the civil-war ravaged Syria.
The Hunger crises in Africa are often not solved solely with money
The government in 2014 accounted for 416 million euros, it was in 2017 with the Euro 1.76 billion, more than four times as much. Were able to benefit, and international organizations.
Many of the small, forgotten crises
In view of this development VENRO Chairman bornhorst called for a more sustainable development policy. “We are asking the Federal government again and again that the expenditure and Commitments be sustained.” In the case of the current crises in the media prominently reported, would be put together relatively quickly in donors ‘ conferences, and resources. In addition, there are “many small, forgotten and nevertheless, serious disasters, the relief funds are missing.”
The Federal government also supports ds Red cross or the Red Crescent in the Middle East
A realization that seems to be shared in the political Berlin. According to the decision template, two Trends have defined the humanitarian care of the past few years. On the one hand, has widened the gap between the growing demand and the available help. On the other have aggravated the nature and extent of natural disasters and armed conflict: “Humanitarian emergencies are now over years or even decades.”
Financial aid is not a panacea
In the face of serious crises such as in Syria and ongoing emergencies in African countries, experts warn, however, concerned that the bilateral humanitarian assistance as a panacea. “In these cases, we can see the limits of humanitarian assistance,” said VENRO head Bornhorst. The real Problem be a lack of political solutions. “Humanitarian aid must not become a crutch for a lack of political approaches to a solution. Necessary political actions are, and this is a question of foreign policy,” says Bornhorst.
Germany won’t help out of pure self-interest. Against the Background of terrorism and civil wars in many countries and the resulting refugee movements, the Federal government sees the humanitarian aid as a method to ensure security and stability in the country. For Germany as an exporting nation, a stable world economy is also extremely important. It is also the Federal benefits so, if in Africa or Asia crises can be prevented.