Hunger in Yemen

While people in many parts of the 
world are fighting for survival, 
humanitarian aid itself is becoming 
scarce. On World Humanitarian Day, 
the partner organization of Aktion 
Deutschland Hilft, LandsAid e. V., 
from Kaufering, Germany, urgently 
warns of a dangerous trend:

Humanitarian aid is being 
politicized, instrumentalized – 
and increasingly underfunded. At 
the same time, however, the 
suffering in many regions is 
dramatically worsening – both in 
the eyes of the world and often 
behind closed doors.

Gaza: Symbolic Politics Instead of Rescue
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has 
reached a new low. Children are starving, 
hospitals are shut down, and drinking 
water is scarce – while aid packages 
are being washed up in the sea. "Aid 
measures such as airdrops may seem like 
solutions at first glance, but they are 
no substitute for well-planned, 
coordinated aid deliveries via land 
routes," says member of the board of
LandsAid. "Aid supplies that don't arrive 
don't save lives."

Most recently, our partner organization 
LandsAid has worked with a small, courageous 
partner organization on the ground, board 
member continued. Their team distributed 
urgently needed food and implemented 
psychosocial support for traumatized 
children and young people. "What they 
accomplished is almost beyond words," 
said the LandsAid board member. "But 
without access, without resources – and 
without outside support – even these 
lifesavers reach their limits."

Yemen: A Forgotten Crisis
At the same time, people are dying 
every day in Yemen – quietly, unseen, 
without comment. Almost 80 percent of 
the population depends on humanitarian 
aid. Children are starving, families 
are fleeing.

The war that has caused all this for
more than ten years seems to have faded 
into the background. "Yemen is no less 
terrible than Gaza. It's just less 
visible. And therefore less funded," 
board member emphasizes.

Cuts to humanitarian aid send "the wrong signal"
The ongoing suffering of people living in 
the front-line areas of Ukraine also 
threatens to disappear from public view, 
while humanitarian needs continue to grow. 
As the crises escalate, the German 
government is planning massive cuts to 
humanitarian aid.

"A wrong signal at the worst possible time," 
says the LandsAid board. Because: "Without 
reliable funding, aid will collapse – 
precisely where it is most urgently needed."

Unrestricted donations enable flexibility – and save lives
As a non-profit organization, the partner 
organization of Aktion Deutschland Hilft, 
LandsAid, relies on unrestricted donations 
to be able to act quickly, flexibly, and 
independently – especially in crisis 
regions like Gaza, Yemen, Ukraine, Syria, 
and all the other countries where the 
organization is active.

"Employee-earmarked project funds help – 
but they aren't enough," emphasizes board 
member. "Unrestricted donations are the 
backbone of our work. They close funding gaps, 
enable immediate assistance when there's no 
time to process applications, and strengthen 
local partners who would otherwise be left 
to fend for themselves. In short: they make 
long-term structures possible – not just 
one-off actions."

LandsAid calls for safe access to people in need.

On World Humanitarian Day, our partner 
organization LandsAid says: "Please do not 
just talk about aid, but actually help." 
What is needed now are not further cuts, 
but targeted investments in what truly 
matters: the lives, dignity, and safety of 
millions of people worldwide.

Forgotten crises must no longer remain in 
the shadows – they need attention, resources, 
and solidarity. Instead of symbolic gestures, 
concrete solutions are needed: safe access to 
people in need, reliable humanitarian 
corridors, and long-term support.

300 Million People Needed Humanitarian Aid in 2024
August 19th is World Humanitarian Day – an 
action day proclaimed by the UN in 2008 and 
observed annually ever since. Humanitarian 
aid refers to the material and logistical 
provision and distribution of resources to 
protect people in humanitarian emergencies. 
The need for it is constantly growing.

According to UN figures, around 300 million 
people worldwide were dependent on humanitarian 
aid and protection in 2024 – that's roughly one 
in every 27 people globally. This is a slight 
decrease compared to 2023, when the figure 
was over 339 million.

A Day of Remembrance for All People in Crisis Regions
Despite this decrease, it does not mean that the 
situation has improved. Rather, the reduction 
results from a stronger prioritization of the 
most urgent cases coupled with limited resources. 
It is therefore not a genuine decrease in need, but 
a refocusing of aid efforts.

It is always the children who suffer most from 
violence, hunger, or disease in wars, crises, 
conflicts, or natural disasters. This day of 
remembrance is dedicated to all the families 
who depend on emergency aid and protection. At 
the same time, conditions for aid workers are 
becoming increasingly difficult.

Aid workers risk their lives every day
These dedicated aid workers often risk their lives 
to help people in war-torn and crisis-stricken 
regions around the world. The focus of 
emergency aid is to save lives and alleviate 
suffering while maintaining neutrality and 
impartiality. This is what these people are 
fighting for. World Humanitarian Day is meant 
to honor their tremendous commitment and courage.

The partner organization of Aktion Deutschland 
Hilft, LandsAid, also has such admirable people 
working for them. Currently, it is the aid teams 
of our local partners who are distributing 
urgently needed food to the most vulnerable 
people, for example in Gaza, Ukraine, and Yemen, 
and who are implementing psychosocial support 
measures in Ukraine and Syria. "We are thinking 
of them and thanking them," says board member.

Unrestricted donations as a vital resource 
for international aid
Despite slightly declining numbers, the need for 
humanitarian aid remains at a historically high 
level. Unrestricted donations are needed more 
than ever – to provide assistance where it 
should be planned, but where funds are lacking.

Cuts and prioritizations jeopardize aid in crisis 
regions such as Gaza, Yemen, and Syria, especially 
for vulnerable groups.

Thank you for your donation!