Foreign Minister Steinmeier issued the following statement in Munich today (11 July) on the opening of the World Food Programme (WFP) Innovation Accelerator in Munich:

“In the face of the most serious global refugee crisis since the end of the Second World War, the need for humanitarian aid is greater than ever before. Germany is the second‑largest donor to the World Food Programme in 2016, providing a record of €570 million to Syria and the region alone.

Given the great challenges, it is not simply the amount of humanitarian aid provided that counts, but rather how foresightedly, rapidly, efficiently and with which partners it is provided. New approaches must be found if we want to ensure that nobody on our planet has to go hungry any more. To this end, we need humanitarian aid, business and research to be more joined up. The Innovation Accelerator will contribute to the development of new technologies and business models that will benefit people in need.”