Mud and debris left behind by the flood can be seen in the foreground of the picture. In the background, a building with the lettering "Burg-Apotheke", windows and doors are destroyed and the building is empty.

Germany

Following the once-in-a-century floods in western Germany, action medeor became active within its own country for the first time.

A First for action medeor: Providing Aid at Home

In July 2021, heavy rainfall caused devastating floods in the German states of North Rhine‑Westphalia and Rhineland‑Palatinate. The impact was catastrophic: homes and roads collapsed under the force of the water, entire villages were destroyed, and more than 180 people lost their lives.

In this extraordinary emergency, it quickly became clear that every form of help was urgently needed. action medeor therefore made the decision to launch the first domestic relief operation in the organization’s history.

In figures: The summer 2021 floods

  • More than 180 people lost their lives in Germany alone during the July 2021 floods; parts of Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Luxembourg were also affected
  • The federal states of Rhineland‑Palatinate and North Rhine‑Westphalia were particularly hard hit
  • On 14 and 15 July, some regions experienced 100 to 150 liters of rainfall per square meter within 24 hours—more than normally falls during the entire month of July
  • Over EUR 30 billion in economic damage in Germany alone

From emergency relief to long‑term projects for children and older people

Immediately after the disaster, an action medeor team traveled to the heavily affected Ahr Valley to plan the first emergency assistance measures together with local communities. These initial relief efforts began right away: action medeor provided vaccines and medical supplies, water purification tablets, and installed solar‑powered street lighting in destroyed villages.

In a second phase, long‑term projects were implemented to restore healthcare services and other critical infrastructure. These included setting up a container facility that temporarily housed a pharmacy and a medical practice, providing temporary spaces for crisis response teams and community meeting points, and supporting projects focused on care for senior citizens as well as psychosocial support for children and adolescents.

action medeor’s commitment in the Ahr Valley continues to this day. Construction of a day‑care center for older people, supported by donations from action medeor, is scheduled to begin in autumn 2024.

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Our work in Germany

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