The plans currently being negotiated in the coalition talks to dissolve the Federal Ministry for Development Cooperation (BMZ) come at the wrong time and are a completely wrong signal in view of the political challenges, emphasise Caritas Germany, the aid organisation of the German Caritas Association, and the episcopal aid organisation Misereor. The two Catholic aid organisations criticise the attitude of the future governing parties CDU/CSU and SPD to dissolve the BMZ and integrate it into the Foreign Ministry as one of the results of their coalition negotiations. "This would not only mean that Germany would recklessly relinquish an important instrument in international cooperation, but would also massively lose influence and importance as a reliable partner in the world," says Oliver Müller, Director of Caritas Germany. "All of Germany's partner countries are following very closely how the new German government is positioning itself, especially now that the USA is withdrawing internationally and it is questionable which forces will fill the gap left behind."

In addition, the dissolution of the Development Ministry would have a massive impact on poverty reduction and migration movements as well as global and national security issues, as Misereor emphasises: "The massive cuts in German development cooperation today are the global crises of tomorrow, with repercussions as far away as Germany. Every year, measures to alleviate poverty and the consequences of wars and conflicts, and therefore the realisation of development goals, would become more expensive," emphasises Misereor Managing Director Bernd Bornhorst. In concrete terms, many conflict prevention and peace work projects would have to be cancelled. "Civil society organisations in particular are also losing the support they actually need to advocate for disadvantaged groups and people in need in an increasingly political-autocratic environment"

The two aid organisations are also extremely critical of the future funding for humanitarian aid and development cooperation that is being discussed. The internationally agreed quota of 0.7 percent of gross domestic product must be maintained as a target, the organisations demand. "A reduction in financial resources would be fatal, especially now that the USA, as the largest donor, has said goodbye to aid funds and European countries such as the UK, the Netherlands and France have also cut their funding, in some cases drastically," says Oliver Müller.

The effects of the US funding freeze are already being felt: critical food aid programmes have been suspended, leaving millions of people - especially in East Africa and the Middle East - in existential need. In Sudan, 24 million people are in urgent need of food, 12 million are at risk of starvation and 750,000 people are already suffering from hunger.

"Humanitarian aid and development cooperation are not a luxury, but an urgent necessity in a world in which individual states are acting ever more ruthlessly to assert their interests. As church aid organisations for humanitarian aid and development cooperation, we appeal to the CDU/CSU and SPD negotiators not to abandon the BMZ and subordinate it to foreign policy interests, but to stand up for stability and peace with a strong BMZ," said Bernd Bornhorst.

Note to editors:

Oliver Müller, Director of Caritas Germany, and Bernd Bornhorst of Misereor are available for interviews.