On the occasion of the presentation of its annual report, the Catholic charity has called on the German government to significantly step up its efforts towards peace, diplomatic conflict resolution and stability. “The global consequences of the current wars and crises, such as those in the Middle East, Sudan and the Congo, are dramatic; the number of people driven into hunger by armed conflicts has almost doubled in recent years. Economic interests must not be allowed to prevent pressure being brought to bear on those responsible,” explains Misereor’s Chief Executive, Andreas Frick.
In view of the increase in wars and conflicts, Frick criticises the one-sided focus on military spending whilst simultaneously cutting the development budget: “Peace is not achieved through military deterrence alone. Peace is created where people have prospects. Where hunger is tackled. Where young people find education and work. Those who make cuts here are not saving on trivialities. They are undermining precisely those foundations that enable long-term security. That is strategically short-sighted.”
Stop further cuts to development co-operation
Misereor’s Chief Executive also drew attention to the close link between armed conflicts, extreme poverty and health, with reference to the Ebola outbreak in the Congo. The virus is striking a region where violence, displacement, destroyed infrastructure and a chronically underfunded health system converge. “Our partner organisation BDOM Mahagi – a network of 24 healthcare facilities, including five hospitals – was able, in this situation, to step up protective measures, train staff and inform the population in local languages. It is precisely such structures that determine whether an epidemic is contained – or spirals out of control,” said Frick.
In light of this global crisis, the chairman of the Catholic Central Office for Global Development, Prelate Karl Jüsten, called for a halt to further cuts in the Church’s development cooperation: “We are calling for a freeze to ensure planning certainty for our project partners in the Global South. The consequences of a further downward trend would have disastrous repercussions for the most vulnerable people in the countries of the Global South and for Germany’s reputation in the world.”
60 million in donations out of 234 million in total income
Misereor’s Executive Director, Annette Ptassek, thanked donors for their continued strong solidarity with people in countries with high poverty rates. “It remains a clear sign that people in Germany do not wish to skimp on compassion and solidarity at this time,” said Ptassek. In total, Misereor had 234 million euros at its disposal in 2025, including funds from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Misereor currently supports more than 1,600 partner organisations in over 80 countries worldwide.
