Wie wir helfen
How we assist

Humanitarian operations worldwide

Emergency aid, reconstruction, sustainability

We assist people in need: In addition to providing efficient emergency aid in crises, our work focuses on supporting reconstruction and sustainable projects to strengthen resilience. 

As a humanitarian aid organisation, the German Red Cross (GRC) protects affected people in crises and disasters, provides humanitarian assistance in ongoing emergencies, and supports reconstruction and rehabilitation.

The GRC is particularly committed to those most in need and strongly advocates the respect for international humanitarian law during armed conflicts. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, we strive to prevent and alleviate human suffering everywhere and at all times.

As part of our resilience approach, our goal is to sustainably strengthen local communities to overcome challenges on their own and better cope with crises and disasters. To this end, the GRC implements important projects in water supply, sanitation, and hygiene, securing basic livelihoods, and adapting to the impacts of climate change.

Emergency Relief

Reducing suffering: The losses and damage caused by sudden hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods are often massive. The German Red Cross provides life-saving emergency assistance to those affected as quickly as possible.

GRC staff talking in front of aircraft

Disasters, crises, and conflicts often leave those affected with nothing. Every minute counts – that's why the German Red Cross's emergency relief works like clockwork.

RC staff talking to community representative in South Sudan

Providing people in need with fast and purposeful assistance requires efficient coordination of aid and close cooperation with local Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Packed relief items in stacks

In an emergency, it's essential to react quickly, as every minute counts. An efficient relief operation is achieved through well-coordinated processes, a functioning logistical infrastructure, and prepared deployment modules that can be activated quickly.

GRC staff talking in front of aircraft

Disasters, crises, and conflicts often leave those affected with nothing. Every minute counts – that's why the German Red Cross's emergency relief works like clockwork.

RC staff talking to community representative in South Sudan

Providing people in need with fast and purposeful assistance requires efficient coordination of aid and close cooperation with local Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Packed relief items in stacks

In an emergency, it's essential to react quickly, as every minute counts. An efficient relief operation is achieved through well-coordinated processes, a functioning logistical infrastructure, and prepared deployment modules that can be activated quickly.

Reconstruction

Providing prospects: With its international network and technical and logistical expertise, the German Red Cross supports long-term reconstruction after crises and disasters with the goal of restoring local people´s livelihoods.

Long-term cooperation

Improving living conditions: The GRC cooperates with the respective local Red Cross or Red Crescent societies on sustainable projects.

Through disaster risk reduction programmes we prepare people in vulnerable areas to protect themselves from potential disasters. Food security activities improve access to food. Health services ensure basic medical care. Water, sanitation, and hygiene projects provide people with clean water and protect their health. And livelihood security initiatives open up a wider range of resources and income-generating opportunities for people.

Core Purposes

African woman carrying water can on head

GRC projects always have the objective to strengthen the resilience of the most vulnerable people and the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to enable them to better cope with crises and disasters in the future.

People in snow with relief items

The German Red Cross is intensively exploring how anticipatory humanitarian aid can be planned and implemented to better protect people before an impending disaster occurs.

African woman carrying water can on head

GRC projects always have the objective to strengthen the resilience of the most vulnerable people and the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to enable them to better cope with crises and disasters in the future.

People in snow with relief items

The German Red Cross is intensively exploring how anticipatory humanitarian aid can be planned and implemented to better protect people before an impending disaster occurs.

Our operational areas

Woman in desert with goats

The climate crisis affects us all – but countries in the Global South are hit particularly hard. We are working worldwide to counteract the negative humanitarian consequences of climate change through climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction projects.

Woman in desert with goats

The climate crisis affects us all – but countries in the Global South are hit particularly hard. We are working worldwide to counteract the negative humanitarian consequences of climate change through climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction projects.

Rotkreuzlerin spricht mit Seniorin

Your kindness can change lives.

We assist people in need: In addition to providing efficient emergency aid in acute crises, our work focuses on supporting reconstruction and sustainable projects to strengthen resilience.

Support a project with your donation now