Germany has reaffirmed its position as a vital partner of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in the Middle East and North Africa, providing critical support at a time of growing humanitarian needs and shrinking global aid budgets. Germany’s continued commitment has enabled WFP to deliver life-saving assistance and strengthen resilience for millions of people living amid conflict, economic hardship, and climate shocks.
“Germany’s support highlights the importance of humanitarian responsibility in an increasingly uncertain world,” said Samer Abdeljaber, WFP Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa. “This partnership allows WFP to stand by people in their most difficult moments – whether they are displaced by violence or struggling to survive economic and climate crises. Germany’s contributions represent not just funding, but solidarity and hope.”
Across the region, prolonged conflicts, large-scale displacement, soaring living costs, and more frequent extreme weather events continue to push vulnerable communities to the brink. Many families are forced to make impossible choices between food and other basic needs. In this context, Germany’s support enables WFP to respond to immediate emergencies while also investing in long-term programmes that promote resilience and self-reliance.
In 2025, Germany contributed a total of EUR 158 million to WFP operations in the region. Of this, EUR 95 million was provided by the Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) to support life-saving humanitarian assistance in some of the most fragile settings. In Gaza, WFP continues to assist 1.8 million people dependent on emergency food aid. Syrian refugees in Jordan received cash assistance to meet essential needs, while in Syria, the most vulnerable households benefited from targeted food support. In Lebanon, WFP helped families cope with the impacts of the country’s ongoing economic crisis.
Germany also continued its support for the “Grain from Ukraine” initiative in 2025, through which Ukraine donates wheat and international partners cover transportation and distribution costs. With an allocation of EUR 8 million, Germany helped deliver Ukrainian wheat to Syria, where it is processed into bread in local bakeries, reaching nearly two million people.
In addition, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) provided EUR 63 million for WFP’s long-term resilience programmes. This funding supports social protection systems in Syria, school meal programmes in Lebanon, and efforts to prevent malnutrition in Yemen. BMZ contributions also help safeguard livelihoods, strengthen climate resilience, and enable communities to better withstand recurring shocks.
German funding in 2025 supported WFP operations across Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Syria, and Yemen. “Germany’s engagement is improving lives every day across the region,” Abdeljaber said. “We deeply value this trusted partnership, built on shared values and a strong commitment to helping people build a better future.”
