Don’t let austerity destroy solidarity! Petition against the austerity budget: Misereor

Questions & Answers Feature: ‘The Cost of the Cuts’ Sources

As part of a broad coalition of humanitarian and development organisations, we handed over the petition to representatives of the governing SPD and CDU/CSU parliamentary groups on 8 September 2026, at the start of the budget negotiations. By 30 September 2026, a total of 100,529 people had signed . Thank you to everyone who signed, shared and collected signatures.

Together, we are putting pressure on …

The petition is just one part of our campaign. Together, we have drawn attention to the consequences of the cuts – through actions, political discussions and public protests.

…and we won’t let up

Because behind the figures in the federal budget are real people: when funds are lacking, support programmes cannot continue, schools and health centres have to close, and people in crisis-hit areas lose vital support.

The majority want greater solidarity

And we are not alone in our demand. A representative Forsa survey commissioned by the organisation ‘Action Against Hunger’ has shown that 73 per cent of those surveyed believe the international community should provide more funding to combat hunger and poverty worldwide. Furthermore, 86 per cent say that humanitarian aid should be based on the severity of the need – not on geopolitical interests.

Other Members of the Bundestag, such as the Federal Government Commissioner for Freedom of Religion and Belief, Thomas Rachel (CDU), and the SPD’s spokesperson on development policy, Sanae Abdi, were also present at the handover.

On 8 September, together with a broad coalition of civil society organisations, we submitted the petition ‘Don’t cut solidarity to the bone’. In doing so, we sent a clear message of international solidarity shortly before the budget decisions were due to be taken.

Petition

To: Chancellor Merz, Finance Minister Klingbeil and the leaders of the SPD and CDU/CSU parliamentary groups

Crises and conflicts are escalating worldwide. Millions of people are struggling with hunger, poverty and the consequences of the climate crisis – particularly women and children. Nevertheless, the German Government is planning further cuts to development cooperation. Yet massive cuts have already been made; funding for emergency aid has even been halved over the last two years.

These cuts are hitting the wrong people. Humanitarian emergency aid and development cooperation save lives. They strengthen education, health, food security and income opportunities. They are particularly effective where they reduce inequality and specifically strengthen the rights of women, girls and other disadvantaged groups.

Cutting back in these areas exacerbates the consequences of crises: more people go hungry, health centres close, girls lose their places at school and families lose their livelihoods.

We urge you: Stop the cuts and invest in emergency aid and development cooperation!

Do not cut funding for those who need our solidarity most urgently. Strengthen human rights and equality so that people can overcome hunger, poverty and dependency, so that women can make their own decisions about their lives, and so that children everywhere have a future.

What are the benefits of development cooperation? Who is suffering most from the cuts? What exactly happens when cuts are made? Why should Germany care about the crises in other countries? What is the petition "Don't cut solidarity to the bone" calling for? Which organisations are taking part? How much money does Germany spend on international aid? Why should Germany get involved abroad?

People in crisis situations are particularly affected by cuts - especially in conflict areas. This particularly includes children, women and people living in poverty or on the run.

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This report uses facts and figures to demonstrate the scale and far-reaching consequences of German…

This report uses facts and figures to demonstrate the scale and far-reaching consequences of German and international cuts to international cooperation and humanitarian aid.

Publishers: ADRA, Action Against Hunger, Bread for the World, CARE, German Foundation for World Population, Global Citizen, Help, Hirschfeld-Eddy Foundation, International Rescue Committee, Misereor, ONE, Oxfam, Terre des Hommes, Welthungerhilfe, Women for Women International
Year of publication: 2026
Number of pages: 4

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This report uses facts and figures to demonstrate the scale and far-reaching consequences of German and international cuts to international cooperation and humanitarian aid.

Publishers: ADRA, Action Against Hunger, Bread for the World, CARE, German Foundation for World Population, Global Citizen, Help, Hirschfeld-Eddy Foundation, International Rescue Committee, Misereor, ONE, Oxfam, Terre des Hommes, Welthungerhilfe, Women for Women International
Year of publication: 2026
Number of pages: 4

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According to UN reports, a lack of funding means that:

Millions of people do not receive support,
food, water or medicines are not provided,
aid programmes are reduced or discontinued.

Even today, more than 100 million people in need do not receive adequate help because of a lack of funds.
For those affected, this means more hunger, more illness and fewer chances of survival.

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International cooperation has achieved measurable successes, for example

global child mortality has more than halved since 2000,
maternal mortality has fallen by over a third since then,
Polio, also known as infantile paralysis, has almost been eradicated,
HIV is no longer a death sentence; even in poorer countries there are affordable medicines,
Infectious diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis have been greatly reduced,
Hunger: in 2010, one in three children suffered from stunted growth due to malnutrition, whereas today this figure is only around one in five.
many children, especially girls, are attending school for the first time, even in crisis regions.

At the same time, UN organisations are warning: This progress is jeopardised if funding is cut. International cooperation is effective - but only if it is adequately funded.

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In 2026, the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has 10.06 billion euros at its disposal. That is less than two per cent of the entire federal budget. 1 billion euros will be available for emergency aid in the Federal Foreign Office budget in 2026. That is 0.2 per cent of the federal budget.

By comparison, the Federal Ministry of Defence receives just under 16 percent of the federal budget (well over 82 billion euros). In 2025, defence spending will have increased by 28 percent. The 2026 tank discount costs 1.6 billion for two months

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Around 239 million people worldwide are dependent on humanitarian aid. At the same time, hundreds of millions of people are suffering from hunger. Experience from crisis regions shows that a lack of support can exacerbate conflicts, increase instability and force people to flee. International aid is therefore a question of shared global responsibility and humanity.

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The inequality between North and South has historical and structural causes. The wealth of many industrialised countries is closely linked to the era of colonialism, resource use and unequal trade structures. The climate crisis is also closely linked to this: it is the result of resource consumption and economic practices that have primarily benefited the global North - while the consequences particularly affect the global South.

This gives rise to a special responsibility for fair trading conditions, climate justice and international cooperation.
Solidarity is not charity - it is a step towards greater justice and human dignity.

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The petition calls on the German government to stop the cuts in development cooperation and humanitarian aid and to strengthen international aid again - more global responsibility and humanity.

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ADRA, Aktion gegen den Hunger, Brot für die Welt, CARE, Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung, Global Citizen, Help, Hirschfeld-Eddy-Stiftung, International Rescue Committee, Misereor, NRC Flüchtlingshilfe, ONE, Oxfam, Terre des Hommes, Welthungerhilfe and VENRO - on behalf of over 150 civil society organisations.