In our areas of operation – Gaza, Ukraine, and other crisis regions – we witness every day just how urgently people rely on fast and flexible humanitarian response. Especially now, as humanitarian assistance comes under increasing global pressure, our work is more challenging and more vital than ever.

Crises are becoming more complex. Conflicts are intersecting with natural disasters, health emergencies, economic and political instability. While the demands on humanitarian aid in terms of response speed, efficiency, and local cooperation continue to grow, government funding is shrinking. Not to mention the increasing danger for humanitarian workers of being killed in the field, and the general erosion and disregard of international humanitarian law.

Cutbacks at any cost

In Germany, the federal government has significantly reduced the 2025 budget for development cooperation and humanitarian aid. Particularly affected are payments to UN programs, international relief organizations, and budgets for crisis prevention and stabilization.

The situation is also worsening internationally: After his re-election, U.S. President Donald Trump implemented severe cuts in funding for humanitarian programs. Contributions to the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have been drastically reduced, and support for UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) has been completely halted. Other global health programs and international aid funds are also affected.

Global solidarity at risk

As government funding dries up and global attention fades, essential supply structures are collapsing in many places. Medical aid, protection, and support for people in need are increasingly at risk. In short – global solidarity is eroding.

And the outlook remains tense: Already there are clear signs that the coming budget years will bring further cuts – in Germany and internationally. From a humanitarian perspective, this is catastrophic – and also economically shortsighted. These massive cuts could have costly consequences. Pandemics and regions destabilized by disease and suffering are toxic for the global economy. When people suffer, the economy suffers, too.

Whatever happens to government budgets, the challenge of maintaining independent aid continues to grow – especially in the face of climate change and shrinking resources.

10 Years of “Redefining Global Solidarity”

What do these developments mean for our work? For the past ten years, CADUS has sought new approaches in humanitarian emergency aid. Innovation, cooperation, and knowledge transfer have been key pillars of our work.

In the past, this often meant developing pragmatic solutions for extreme conditions with very limited resources. These ranged from our practical Mobile Makerspace to prototype developments like the Lifesensor, and even high-end projects like our Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) – a travel bus converted into an intensive care unit for deployment in Ukraine.

We are becoming more networked and professional – as shown by our successful classification by the WHO as an Emergency Medical Team (EMT 1 fixed & mobile). The skills and knowledge we’ve gathered over the past ten years – not only in theory but above all in practice – are passed on through our training programs and will be shared even more widely in the future.

In addition to our everyday, partnership-based operations – such as in Gaza, where our MedEvac team includes both Palestinian and international staff – sustainable knowledge transfer is more important than ever. Beyond medical training for local communities – such as in Ukraine, where we have trained 2,344 people to date – CADUS offers HEAT training programs to prepare personnel for deployment in high-risk environments.

Expanding Fields of Operation

Flexibility, innovative solutions, and partnerships are more essential than ever in humanitarian emergency relief.

In the face of growing local challenges caused by climate change, weak infrastructure, and personnel shortages in disaster management, CADUS aims to complement existing structures in a targeted way. We are currently exploring the possibility of building rapid response teams for especially difficult scenarios – such as those involving hazardous materials – or for humanitarian operations during extreme weather events related to climate change.

With modular, cross-functional units – including mobile water supply, technical emergency aid, and our Crisis Response Makerspace – as well as medical capacities, we address specific supply gaps in civil protection between the fire department, THW, and traditional aid organizations.

Now, more than ever – as humanitarian norms are being undermined and government support is dwindling – we see that innovation, cooperation, and knowledge sharing truly make the difference. They ensure aid reaches those who need it most.

Moving Forward Together

Current developments confirm what has driven CADUS for ten years:
Never give up. Never slow down. But instead, find new ways – together – to bring solidarity, aid, and hope to a world that’s growing more complex every day.

We keep going – always standing with those who need us.
Global Solidarity Now. More than ever!