German Red Cross / Deutsches Rotes Kreuz

In view of the escalation of the armed conflict between Israel and Gaza, the German Red Cross (GRC) is very concerned about the humanitarian situation of the civilian population. According to UN-OCHA, more than 1.5 million of the approximately 2.2 million people living in the Gaza Strip are internally displaced. Emergency shelters in the south of the Gaza Strip are scarce and overcrowded. People lack sufficient access to drinking water, food and basic goods. There is also a lack of fuel in the hospitals to maintain supplies.

In conflict and crisis situations, it is the task of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to help affected people and alleviate suffering - according to the degree of need alone. Safe access for aid workers and a continuous supply of essential supplies are currently just as difficult as visits from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to the hostages. Both the ICRC and the GRC are calling for international humanitarian law to be respected. The civilian population and civilian infrastructure must be protected and humanitarian aid workers must be granted unhindered and safe access to the injured, wounded and people seeking protection.

How the German Red Cross helps

On January 7, 2024, a first flight with 33 tons of relief supplies could finally be dispatched from Leipzig to Egypt. A second aid flight with 26 tons of relief supplies followed on 8 January, including around 1,020 family tents, 1,000 tarpaulins for emergency shelters, six pallet trucks for humanitarian logistics and 50 rescue backpacks. On February 14, 2024, GRC sent new relief supplies for the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. 6,900 blankets, 3,000 sleeping bags, 14,000 sleeping mats, 5,000 tarpaulins and 35,000 hygiene packages were also brought to Egypt by truck and cargo ship and handed over to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

In cooperation with the Egyptian Red Crescent and the Palestinian Red Crescent, the relief supplies are being brought to the Gaza Strip as emergency humanitarian aid for the affected civilian population. Most people have had to leave their homes and are on the run. GRC is therefore providing support in the form of medical supplies for emergency care and emergency shelters.

Neutrality and impartiality are principles of our work and enable us to support people in need around the world.

Since Fall 2023, the German Red Cross (GRC) is involved in several emergency response missions, for example in Morocco and Libya.

Earthquake in Morocco

• On the night of September 9th, Morocco was hit by a major earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 and aftershocks. 
• The quakes had a dramatic impact on people in remote and hard-to-reach mountainous regions, in the southwest of the country and in densely populated cities such as Marrakech and Agadir.
• GRC and the Moroccan Red Crescent (MRH) have been working closely together for 12 years. The cooperation mainly includes projects in the field of disaster preparedness and first aid. A GRC delegate is therefore on site and four emergency aid experts have been sent to Morocco to assist in the coordination of the relief efforts.
• To respond to the most urgent needs, the following activities were planned: Provision of 500 family packs (tent, blankets/sleeping bags, floor mats, kitchen kit, hygiene kit) / Distribution of relief goods (especially tents & winterization kits) / Cash aid distribution / Equipment and support for MRH staff and volunteers involved in emergency relief activities / Assumption of running costs for emergency relief activities (e.g. fuel for ambulances, equipment for relief workers).

Floods in Libya

• On September 11th, Storm Daniel struck northeastern Libya, causing extensive damage along the coast. 
• Flash floods resulted in widespread damage, especially in Derna, where the collapse of two dams and other infrastructure reportedly washed away entire neighborhoods and displaced thousands. In the affected areas, infrastructure was so badly damaged that survivors lost all their belongings. 3.5 million people are affected directly or indirectly.
• Since 2022, GRC and the Libyan Red Crescent (LRC) have been working together in  bilateral partnership with a focus on disaster risk reduction projects, in particular on anticipatory humanitarian assistance.
• Urgent needs are in the areas of: Non-Food Items, Shelter, First Aid and Psychological First Aid, Food and WASH: Dispatch of an emergency unit (material and personnel) for drinking water supply for up to 15,000 people (Water Treatment and Distribution Unit) / Provision and transport of relief items (kitchen sets and hygiene kits) for 10,000 families via flight to Benghazi on Semptember 22nd.