What we do

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.

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.

Emergency and disaster relief

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

International Coordination of Aid

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.

Humanitarian logistics

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.

Emergency and disaster relief

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.

International Coordination of Aid

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.

Humanitarian logistics

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.

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.

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.

African woman carrying water can on head

Resilience

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.

Anticipatory action

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.

Resilience

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.

Anticipatory action

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.

Resilience to climate change

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.

Disaster risk reduction

Natural disasters repeatedly confront people with immeasurable suffering and enormous challenges. The German Red Cross is committed to prevent disasters and mitigate their impacts for the population affected.

Resilience to climate change

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.

Disaster risk reduction

Natural disasters repeatedly confront people with immeasurable suffering and enormous challenges. The German Red Cross is committed to prevent disasters and mitigate their impacts for the population affected.

Three boys at a water dispenser in Africa

Water, sanitation and hygiene

Clean water and hygiene are essential for our health. With dozens of projects in various countries the German Red Cross is committed to improve water supplies, sanitation and hygiene, thereby reducing the outbreak of diseases.

Food security

Food security is a precondition for people to be able to lead a healthy and active life. The access to basic food is not only a fundamental human right, but also a central task of the Red Cross.

Healthcare

In cooperation with the national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on the ground, the German Red Cross is committed to humanitarian healthcare and the prevention of health crises.

Improving Livelihoods

The central objective of the German Red Cross is to comprehensively secure the livelihoods of vulnerable people and communities through adequate access to income and resources.

Shelter

If a disaster like a tsunami, a typhoon or an earthquake devastates a region, thousands of houses can be destroyed. The GRC helps planning and building shelters, rebuilding them robust enough to withstand the local threats.

Cash transfer and vouchers

In humanitarian aid, cash transfers and vouchers are a highly suitable way of helping people meet their basic needs and ensure their survival in crisis and disaster situations.

Water, sanitation and hygiene

Clean water and hygiene are essential for our health. With dozens of projects in various countries the German Red Cross is committed to improve water supplies, sanitation and hygiene, thereby reducing the outbreak of diseases.

Food security

Food security is a precondition for people to be able to lead a healthy and active life. The access to basic food is not only a fundamental human right, but also a central task of the Red Cross.

Healthcare

In cooperation with the national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on the ground, the German Red Cross is committed to humanitarian healthcare and the prevention of health crises.

Improving Livelihoods

The central objective of the German Red Cross is to comprehensively secure the livelihoods of vulnerable people and communities through adequate access to income and resources.

Shelter

If a disaster like a tsunami, a typhoon or an earthquake devastates a region, thousands of houses can be destroyed. The GRC helps planning and building shelters, rebuilding them robust enough to withstand the local threats.

Cash transfer and vouchers

In humanitarian aid, cash transfers and vouchers are a highly suitable way of helping people meet their basic needs and ensure their survival in crisis and disaster situations.

Humanitarian aid for refugees

More than 120 million people worldwide are displaced – due to crises, conflicts, and disasters, exacerbated by climate change. The German Red Cross is providing humanitarian emergency relief to refugees in many crisis regions around the world.

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.

Donate for people in need!

Humanitarian operations worldwide

Emergency Relief

Reconstruction

Long-term cooperation

Core Purposes

Our operational areas

Humanitarian aid for refugees

Your kindness can change lives.