Latest news with #WHH
DW
6 days ago
- Health
- DW
German humanitarian aid: NGO focuses on Gaza, Sudan, Syria – DW – 07/24/2025
Faced with the fallout of conflicts and disasters, the German Welthungerhilfe has increased its activities worldwide. In the face of cuts in humanitarian emergency aid worldwide, the NGO says the outlook is bleak. "One in 11 people worldwide are starving. Climate crisis, wars, inequality and reduced funding are also jeopardizing previous successes," reads the 2024 report of the NGO Deutsche Welthungerhilfe(WHH) which was presented in Berlin on Thursday. The message sounds pessimistic, almost desperate. Despite all the adversity, the private aid organization, which relies on government support and donations, is trying to spread confidence: "Our goal of a world without hunger remains achievable — if it is prioritized, politically willed and adequately funded," the report states. However, the NGO's figures show an alarming trend: 733 million people worldwide currently suffer from chronic malnutrition. Since 2019, that number has risen by 152 million. And the situation is likely to worsen further because the US and Germany, the most important donor countries, are massively reducing their budgets for development cooperation and humanitarian aid. "Cuts lead to loss of lives. What looks like austerity measures on paper means hunger, displacement or even death for millions of people," WHH President Marlehn Thieme warned. She stressed that the elimination of hunger remains a top political priority, given the increase of wars and crises. The Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip and the people of Sudan are particularly affected and increasingly unable to get assistance. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is one of the worst things he has seen in over 30 years, said WHH Secretary General Mathias Mogge. The Sudanese army has been fighting the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces since April 2023, displacing more than 11 million people within the country. According to the United Nations, around 25 million people in Sudan need humanitarian aid — about half of the population. According to Mogge, working in Sudan is more dangerous than almost anywhere else. "We still have staff on the ground, some of whom have to hide in villages and the surrounding area," he said. Sudan is one of the places where the international response began too late, Mogge said self-critically. That is why WHH has established what it calls a proactive humanitarian aid system to enable them to respond faster to crises and wars, as well as to the consequences of climate change. Mogge explained that this system enables them to make payments swiftly, "so that people don't lose everything they own, such as livestock, money and agricultural equipment. Instead, they can keep as much as possible and don't have to start from scratch later." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Another hot spot for Welthungerhilfe is Syria, where the humanitarian situation remains catastrophic even after the Assad regime was ousted in December 2024. After 14 years of civil war, the economy is in ruins. There is a shortage of everything: water, food, electricity, health services, schools. Fifteen million people lack nutrition. At the end of last year, the price of bread in Aleppo rose by up to 900% within just one month, according to Welthungerhilfe's annual report. The NGO began to support bakeries in the city to help feed 40,000 residents. Almost €87 million in donations Welthungerhilfe has projects in 37 countries. It cooperates with over 300 partners on the ground. Founded in 1962, the organization had a budget of around €384 million ($452 mio) in 2024, of which just under €87 million came through donations. With €147 million, the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development is the biggest contributor to the Welthungerhilfe budget. The rest comes from international institutions, including the United Nations World Food Program and the European Commission. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A key sentence in the annual report reads: "Hunger and violent conflict are closely linked: without a secure food supply, peace remains difficult to achieve, and without peace, hunger can hardly be overcome." Against this backdrop, Welthungerhilfe President Marlehn Thieme urged the international community and the German government to step up diplomatic efforts to end conflicts. While Germany is set to more than double its defense spending, the 2025 draft budget foresees a reduction of the foreign ministry's humanitarian emergency aid to only one billion euros. At the same time, spending on development cooperation will fall below the self-imposed target of 0.7 percent of GDP. Therefore, Welthungerhilfe together with the children's aid organization Terre des Hommes have warned: "The German government is embarking not only on a financial but also a political departure from its international commitments." While you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.
DW
6 days ago
- Health
- DW
German humanitarian aid: NGO focus on Gaza, Sudan, Syria – DW – 07/24/2025
Faced with the fallout of conflicts and disasters, the German Welthungerhilfe has increased its activities worldwide. In the face of cuts in humanitarian emergency aid worldwide, the NGO says the outlook is bleak. "One in eleven people worldwide are starving. Climate crisis, wars, inequality, and reduced funding are also jeopardizing previous successes," reads the 2024 report of the NGO Deutsche Welthungerhilfe(WHH) which was presented in Berlin on Thursday. The message sounds pessimistic, almost desperate. Despite all the adversity, the private aid organization, which relies on government support and donations, is trying to spread confidence: "Our goal of a world without hunger remains achievable — if it is prioritized, politically willed, and adequately funded," the report states. However, the NGO's figures show an alarming trend: 733 million people worldwide currently suffer from chronic malnutrition. Since 2019, that number has risen by 152 million. And the situation is likely to worsen further because the US and Germany, the most important donor countries, are massively reducing their budgets for development cooperation and humanitarian aid. "Cuts lead to loss of lives. What looks like austerity measures on paper means hunger, displacement, or even death for millions of people," WHH President Marlehn Thieme warned. She stressed that the elimination of hunger remains a top political priority, given the increase of wars and crises. The Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip and the people of Sudan are particularly affected and increasingly unable to get assistance. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is one of the worst things he has seen in over 30 years, said WHH Secretary General Mathias Mogge. Sudan: Half of the population needs humanitarian aid Since April 2023, the Sudanese army has been fighting the paramilitary group "Rapid Support Forces," causing more than 11 million people to be displaced within the country. According to the United Nations (UN), around 25 million people in Sudan need humanitarian aid — that is about half of the population. According to Mogge, working in Sudan is more dangerous than almost anywhere else: "We still have staff on the ground, some of whom have to hide in villages and the surrounding area," he said. Sudan is one of the places where the international response began too late, Mogge said self-critically. That is why WHH has established what it calls a proactive humanitarian aid system to enable them to respond faster to crises and wars, as well as to the consequences of climate change. Mogge explains that this system enables them to make payments swiftly, "so that people don't lose everything they own, such as livestock, money, and agricultural equipment. Instead, they can keep as much as possible and don't have to start from scratch later." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Syria: Nearly 15 million people are in need Another hotspot for Welthungerhilfe is Syria, where the humanitarian situation remains catastrophic even after the Assad regime was ousted in December 2024. After 14 years of civil war, the economy is in ruins. There is a shortage of everything: water, food, electricity, health services, schools. Fifteen million people lack nutrition. At the end of last year, the price of bread in Aleppo rose by up to 900% within just one month, according to Welthungerhilfe's annual report. The NGO began to support bakeries in the city to help feed 40,000 residents. Almost €87 million in donations Welthungerhilfe has projects in 37 countries. It cooperates with over 300 partners on the ground. Founded in 1962, the organization had a budget of around €384 million ($452 mio) in 2024, of which just under €87 million came through donations. With €147 million, the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development is the biggest contributor to the Welthungerhilfe budget. The rest comes from international institutions, including the United Nations World Food Program and the European Commission. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A key sentence in the annual report reads: "Hunger and violent conflict are closely linked: without a secure food supply, peace remains difficult to achieve, and without peace, hunger can hardly be overcome." Against this backdrop, Welthungerhilfe President Marlehn Thieme urged the international community and the German government to step up diplomatic efforts to end conflicts. While Germany is set to more than double its defense spending, the 2025 draft budget foresees a reduction of the foreign ministry's humanitarian emergency aid to only one billion euros. At the same time, spending on development cooperation will fall below the self-imposed target of 0.7 percent of GDP. Therefore, Welthungerhilfe together with the children's aid organization Terre des Hommes have warned: "The German government is embarking not only on a financial but also a political departure from its international commitments." While you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.
Business Recorder
18-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
HCSTSI, RDF organize two-day ‘Bachat Bazaar'
HYDERABAD: Under the directive of Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industry (HCSTSI) President, Muhammad Saleem Memon, HCSTSI in collaboration with the Regional Development Foundation (RDF), organized a two-day "Bachat Bazaar" at the Expo Centre, Hyderabad. The event was formally inaugurated by the Senior Vice President, Ahmed Idrees Chohan, Former Senator Aajiz Dhamrah and Faisal Jabbar Khan were also present at the occasion. While addressing the opening ceremony, Ahmed Idrees Chohan, appreciated RDF's Associate Director in Hyderabad Arshad Ali, Head of Programs Niaz Ahmed Siyal and especially Project Manager Aftab Soomro for their welfare initiatives. He remarked that in these times of high inflation, such discount bazaars are blessing for the public. He emphasized that providing essential commodities such as flour, lentils, sugar, rice, oil, vegetables, fruits, clothing and other household necessities at affordable prices is a practical step toward public relief. He appealed to the Sindh government to take permanent steps to support this noble cause by allocating a designated space in Hyderabad for a permanent discount bazaar to help citizens combat rising prices. The Chamber assured its full cooperation for all such initiatives. He further urged the public to take full advantage of the two-day event by purchasing quality goods at discounted rates. Former Senator Aajiz Dhamrah and Faisal Jabbar Khan, in a joint statement, expressed full support from the Sindh government for such public-friendly initiatives aimed at controlling inflation and providing relief to the common man. They also assured full cooperation with the business community and welfare organizations. Speaking on the occasion, RDF's Associate Director Arshad Ali and Project Manager Aftab Soomro shared that the bazaar featured stalls offering food items, vegetables, fruits, traditional cuisines, clothes and various household goods. They expressed immense satisfaction over the public's positive response, noting that the people of Hyderabad highly appreciate such markets. They also thanked all participating organizations for their support in setting up stalls. Sarwan Baloch, an expert in economic development and value chains from Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH) a German-funded NGO also addressed the gathering. He stated that WHH is actively working on integrated projects focused on food security, employment and essential needs for underprivileged and vulnerable communities. He announced that 20 more discount bazaars would soon be organized across Sindh, including Hyderabad. Notable attendees included former MPA Nadeem Siddiqui, TDAP Hyderabad In-charge Salahuddin Abbasi, Chaudhry Muhammad Aslam, Suhail Qureshi, Asghar Khilji, Sanawwar Qureshi, Sikandar Ali Rajput, Ayub Shaikh, Idrees Memon, Ahmed Hussain Shaikh, Muhammad Yaseen Khilji, Irfan Arbiani, Kishor Kumar Bhatia, Irfan Memon and others. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
