Struggling with hunger: Reports by an aid organization suggest that one out of every eleven people lack sufficient food.
In the heart of the Middle East, the Gaza Strip is grappling with a dire humanitarian crisis, a situation that has left Mogge, an employee of Welthungerhilfe, shocked and concerned. This crisis is exacerbated by significant reductions in aid funds, a problem that Welthungerhilfe, a leading international organisation providing aid and development support, is deeply concerned about.
The cuts in aid funds, particularly from key donors such as the United States and Germany, have a profound impact on development and humanitarian aid budgets. These reductions affect millions of vulnerable people worldwide, especially those in crisis-stricken regions. In the case of Germany, the country has reduced its development aid budget for the second consecutive year, cutting funds by nearly €1 billion between 2024 and 2025, with humanitarian emergency aid seeing a dramatic decrease of about 53%.
These funding cuts have a direct impact on food security, a concern that is particularly acute in regions like Gaza, where humanitarian needs are already urgent due to ongoing conflict and economic blockade. NGOs like Welthungerhilfe emphasise that reduced funding limits their ability to provide essential food, agricultural support, and emergency relief in such fragile regions. The shrinking budget hampers projects aimed at ensuring sustainable nutrition, agricultural productivity, and emergency food supplies, escalating risks of hunger and malnutrition.
Last year, Welthungerhilfe received 86.5 million euros in donations and 291.9 million euros from governments or other institutions. Despite this support, the budget of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development has seen cuts, particularly in the areas of food security and rural development. This year, there is a planned 18 percent reduction in funding for these areas.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is further complicated by the fact that the supply of food is largely handled by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, with reports of deadly incidents near their distribution centers. Adding to the challenges, the fuel for a water desalination plant operated by Welthungerhilfe is running out and often cannot reach the plant due to bombardments and evacuations.
Welthungerhilfe has been actively engaged in the region, implementing 649 international projects in 37 countries, supporting around 18.7 million people. However, the last food distribution carried out by Welthungerhilfe in Gaza was in February.
The organisation's president, Marlehn Thieme, has warned that cuts in funding can lead to hunger, displacement, or death for millions of people. With one in eleven people in the world currently experiencing hunger, according to Thieme, these cuts could not come at a worse time. The number of people affected by chronic hunger has increased by 152 million people since 2019, leaving 733 million people worldwide currently affected by this crisis.
In the face of these challenges, Welthungerhilfe continues to strive for a world without hunger and for peaceful, just, and sustainable societies. The organisation's work remains crucial in providing aid and development support, particularly in crisis-stricken regions like the Gaza Strip, where millions rely on international aid for their survival.
The funding cuts in food security and rural development have significant implications for health-and-wellness and nutrition, as projects aimed at ensuring sustainable nutrition, agricultural productivity, and emergency food supplies face drastic reductions, escalating the risks of hunger and malnutrition. The ongoing reductions in aid funds from key donors, like Germany, pose a threat to organizations like Welthungerhilfe, as they limit the ability to provide essential food, agricultural support, and emergency relief in crisis-stricken regions such as Gaza.
