Abstract
The article examines the humanitarian aid practices of the Federal Republic of Germany between 2016 and 2025. It analyses data from the UN OCHA Financial Tracking System (FTS) to identify changes in the volume, geographical allocation, and transfer channels of German aid. The German approach is contextualised through a comparison with the practices of other major global donors of humanitarian assistance.
The study concludes that German humanitarian aid has long been subordinated to the objectives of Germany’s foreign and security policy. Although it is formally guided by principles that distinguish it from other areas of foreign policy – including humanitarianism, impartiality, neutrality, and independence – in practice, Germany’s humanitarian policy and operations, integrated into its development policy, remain an instrument for advancing German interests on the international stage.
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