The story
In Germany
Aktion Deutschland Hilft was founded in 2001 with headquarters in Cologne, to combine the capabilities of German aid organisations, so that fast and efficient disaster aid can be guaranteed abroad. Reasons for action are wars and conflicts, famines, earthquakes, floodings, emergencies concerning the environment and other unpredictable disasters. In June 2006 the alliance moved to Bonn.
Aktion Deutschland Hilft includes 24 German aid organizations, which raise donations together and coordinate their measures.
Areas of disaster relief
Aktion Deutschland Hilft is activated after a decision from its member organisations. Examples of disasters it responded to include the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the War in Darfur (August 2004), the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, the 2006 Pangandaran earthquake and tsunami, the 2007 African floods, the 2007 Tabasco flood and cyclones in Bangladesh (March 2008) and Myanmar (May 2008). In 2009 Aktion Deutschland Hilft was active for refugees in Sri Lanka (May), and victims of an earthquake in Indonesia in August and October as well as for people hit by the 2009 West Africa floods. In 2010 there was action for 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2010 Chile earthquake and the 2010 Pakistan floods. In 2011 the alliance took action for the victims of 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and the 2011 East Africa drought. In 2012 the alliance was busy with the 2012 Sahel drought and Refugees of the Syrian Civil War. The year 2013 was dominated by 2013 European floods, the 2013 North India floods and Typhoon Haiyan on the Philippines.
In subsequent years, the alliance responded to further major crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine (since 2022), the Sudan conflict (since 2023), and the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake. In 2026, member organisations were active in response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an earthquake in Colombia, and flash floods in Nepal.
From Wikipedia’s article on Aktion Deutschland Hilft, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5