The German Federal Minister for Development Cooperation, Reem Alabali Radovan, has acknowledged that airdrops of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip offer only limited assistance. Speaking in the “ARD Interview der Woche”, she stated that these deliveries are “only a drop in the hot stone” while also asserting their importance given requests from Jordan and participation from France and the United Kingdom.
Minister Radovan strongly appealed to the Israeli government to permit aid deliveries via land routes. “Allow the UN organizations to enter, which have all the means and possibilities to provide for the people on the ground” she emphasized. She described the situation in Gaza as “heart-wrenching” and the current level of hunger as “unacceptable.
Looking beyond the immediate crisis, Radovan stressed the urgency of discussing a post-ceasefire scenario and the future of Gaza. She explicitly stated that her government would not accept any plan that envisions the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
A permanent ceasefire remains a priority and the development ministry is prepared to provide immediate support on the ground, drawing upon expertise gained in recent years, particularly in areas of energy and water supply, initially developed through projects in Ukraine.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently announced that Minister Radovan will be coordinating with partner nations, such as Egypt, to prepare for a reconstruction conference. Radovan advocates for development aid to be considered a factor in security, not solely crisis prevention.
While the ministry currently accepts planned budget cuts agreed upon at the start of the coalition government, she cautioned that further reductions in funding are problematic given the escalating number of crises globally. The Federal Ministry for Development Cooperation is facing a reduction in its budget of approximately one billion euros this year, with further cuts planned for the coming years.
International development cooperation is facing increased pressure following the cessation of operations by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). A study published in “The Lancet” suggests that over 14 million additional deaths, including 4.5 million children, could occur by 2030 if the funding gap created by USAID’s closure is not addressed.
