Federal charities plead for increased governmental assistance
The Gaza Strip is facing a critical food security crisis, with the entire population predicted to face high acute food insecurity by September, according to the International Peace Index (IPC). The situation has significantly deteriorated since May, with more than 70,000 children under five and 17,000 pregnant and lactating women at risk of acute malnutrition.
Lara Dovifat, head of the political department of Doctors Without Borders, described the situation in Gaza as catastrophic. Tsafrir Cohen, managing director of Medico International, echoed similar sentiments, urging the German federal government to take action and assume responsibility to alleviate the suffering on the ground.
In response, the German government has taken several steps to alleviate the suffering in the Gaza Strip. Since early August, the Bundeswehr (German armed forces) has resumed humanitarian aid flights, delivering critical supplies such as food and medical materials via airdrops over Gaza. These deliveries, carried out in coordination with the Federal Ministry of Defence and Foreign Office, aim to support the besieged population.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Foreign Minister Wadephul have repeatedly called on Israel to open land routes to allow sufficient volumes of aid, as airdrops are only a partial and limited solution. The German government stresses that sustainable humanitarian relief depends on secure and safe ground access for UN organisations and other aid groups.
In addition to humanitarian aid, Germany has halted export authorizations for military equipment that could be used in Gaza to avoid contributing to intensified military operations. Chancellor Merz emphasized prioritizing the release of hostages, pursuing ceasefire negotiations, and ensuring that Hamas plays no role in Gaza’s governance.
However, Cohen criticized both Israel and the federal government for the systematic destruction of healthcare and living conditions in Gaza. Cohen called for a "real political turnaround" by the federal government, including suspending the EU association agreement with Israel if necessary.
In an effort to further improve medical access and assist injured and traumatized children from Gaza, Germany could expand medical supplies and send medical teams specialized in trauma to assist overwhelmed local health facilities. Germany can also establish or scale up programs to transfer severely injured or traumatized children and other vulnerable populations from Gaza to German hospitals or rehabilitation centers for specialized treatment and psychological care.
Strengthening coordination with regional partners, such as Jordan, Egypt, and UN agencies, to ensure streamlined humanitarian corridors and medical evacuation routes will improve access and safety for aid convoys and patients. Investing in mental health programs targeting children traumatized by the conflict, either remotely or through direct support in Gaza or in Germany for evacuated children, is another crucial step.
Finally, Germany can intensify diplomatic initiatives within the EU and at the UN level to push for ceasefire agreements that ensure the protection of civilians and uninterrupted humanitarian access. Cohen emphasized the duty to help as the top priority and criticized the federal government's continued refusal to accept people as a lack of empathy.
References:
[1] Deutsche Welle (2025). Germany resumes humanitarian aid flights to Gaza. [online] Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-resumes-humanitarian-aid-flights-to-gaza/a-61465939
[2] The Jerusalem Post (2025). Cohen: Germany can help by taking in severely injured and sick people from Gaza. [online] Available at: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-711349
[3] Reuters (2025). Germany halts arms exports to Israel over Gaza crisis. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/germany-halts-arms-exports-israel-over-gaza-crisis-2025-08-01/
[4] The New Arab (2025). Germany resumes humanitarian aid flights to Gaza. [online] Available at: https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2025/8/2/germany-resumes-humanitarian-aid-flights-to-gaza
- The situation in Gaza has prompted calls for a comprehensive political change, with Tsafrir Cohen urging Germany to suspend the EU association agreement with Israel if necessary, to address the systematic destruction of healthcare and living conditions there.
- Alongside humanitarian aid, there are discussions about expanding medical supplies in Gaza and sending specialized medical teams to assist local health facilities, as well as establishing or scaling up programs for the transfer of severely injured or traumatized children from Gaza to German hospitals or rehabilitation centers.
- As the crisis unfolds, there have been multiple initiatives at the diplomatic level, with Germany working closely with regional partners like Jordan and Egypt, as well as UN agencies, to ensure streamlined humanitarian corridors and medical evacuation routes. Germany is also pushing for ceasefire agreements at the EU and UN level to protect civilians and ensure uninterrupted humanitarian access.
