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Flood relief

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Hilfsorganisationen im Ahrtal
Johanniter/Sebastian Becher

Flood in Germany

Following the floods in Germany in the summer of 2021, Help provided comprehensive disaster relief in the Ahr Valley and throughout the entire flood-affected area. We supported numerous social organisations and non-profit associations in dealing with the disaster – find out how here.

Table of contents
800000

800,000 people received support

189

projects were funded by Help

6000000 €

in donations have been converted into aid by Help

How is Help providing support in Germany?

Reconstruction following the flood disaster

Vier Kinder der LVR-Paul-Klee-Schule mit neuen Lernmedien
The children at the LVR-Paul-Klee-Schule in Leichlingen are excited about new learning media and support equipment.

As a global aid organisation, our projects usually focus on the Global South. But when there is such great need right on our doorstep, we must act – just as we did after the floods in Germany in 2013.

In the days and weeks following the floods, our focus was on emergency aid: we provided those affected and the volunteers with drinking water and hot meals, and supplied building dryers, tools and equipment for the clean-up work.

Once the emergency relief phase was complete, we supported social projects in the flood-affected area, for example by helping schools and nurseries and facilitating psychosocial support. The organisations we supported included fire brigades, associations for people with disabilities, local branches of the Child Protection Association, sports clubs, and institutions providing support for the elderly and counseling services.

What is the situation like in Germany?

Flood disaster in Germany

[Translate to English:] Zerstörte Häuser nach der Hochwasserkatastrophe in Sinzig
The destruction caused by the flood disaster can hardly be put into words.

On 14 July 2021, persistent heavy rain caused numerous streams and rivers in western Germany to turn into raging torrents. The Rhineland and the Ahr Valley were particularly hard hit. At least 180 people lost their lives in the flood disaster. Countless people lost all their possessions.

The floodwaters left a trail of destruction and hardship beyond comprehension: numerous houses and bridges collapsed, and roads were impassable. Many towns were cut off from the outside world for days. The reconstruction of the affected regions is still ongoing.

Project visit by the Help board to the Ahrweiler Child Protection Association
Ponies against trauma: experiential education with a pony not only helps children and young people in the Ahr valley to learn how to interact with animals through play, but also to strengthen their sense of responsibility, concentration and empathy. In October 2024, Help board members Angelika Josten-Janssen, Ute Vogt and Dr Thorsten Klose-Zuber visited this unique project run by the Ahrweiler Child Protection Association.
Help board in front of the ‘nur mut’ encounter café in Altenahr
In October 2024, Help board members Angelika Josten-Janssen, Ute Vogt and Dr Thorsten Klose-Zuber visited the ‘nur mut’ meeting café run by the Hoffnungswerk e. V. association in Altenahr. Here, flood victims can laugh, cry and draw hope together. The association offers psychological support in the form of counselling sessions and trauma education and is supported by Help.
Eine vom Hochwasser zerstörte Brücke im Ahrtal
As a member of Aktion Deutschland Hilft, the alliance of German aid organizations, Help is involved in disasters such as the floods in Germany.
Mitarbeiter:innen von Help unterstützen die Aufräumarbeiten in Sinzig nach der Hochwasser-Katastrophe
In the days and weeks following the floods, Help employees helped with the clean-up work in the flood area.
In den ersten Tagen nach dem Hochwasser hat Help unter anderem Trinkwasser an Betroffene verteilt
In many places, there was no running water in the weeks following the disaster. Help therefore distributed drinking water to those affected.
Soforthilfe Hochwasser beantragen
During the emergency aid phase, we distributed drying equipment and tools, among other things, to affected households in the disaster area.
Die mobile Suppenküche in Altenburg erhielt finanzielle Unterstützung von Help.
People need something to eat! Help supported the team led by Christel Zimmermann and Dieter Fink, who provided hot meals every day for hard-working helpers and people affected by the floods in the flooded areas.
Buntes Klettergerüst im KinderpAHRadies
Many children in the Ahr valley are traumatized, for example because they have lost their home or even a family member. Leisure activities such as the "KinderpAHRadies" supported by Help are therefore particularly important.
Ein Junge spielt Billard
At the "MegAHR" youth club sponsored by Help, young people from the Ahr valley can meet, retreat and leave the heaviness of the last twelve months behind them for a few hours.
Das Lebenshilfe-Haus in Sinzig wurde vom Hochwasser stark beschädigt und ist nicht mehr bewohnbar.
In the Lebenshilfe house in Sinzig, 12 people with disabilities lost their lives when floodwater flooded the first floor within a few minutes. Help supported Lebenshilfe Sinzig in equipping new accommodation.
Spenden Hochwasser Deutschland: Aufräumarbeiten in Heimerzheim
Around 300,000 tons of bulky waste were generated in Germany after the flood. This corresponds to around 40 years of normal bulky waste.
Kinder bei einer Zirkusvorführung
"Projects like the circus week are incredibly important for the children's mental and psychological health, because they have simply experienced a lot of bad things and now urgently need strengthening and positive experiences," says Friedrich Kratz-Maurer, head teacher of GGS Grüntal in Stolberg.
Broschüren des Hospiz-Vereins Rhein-Ahr e.V.
The Hospiz-Verein Rhein-Ahr e.V. does important work for people at the end of their lives and their relatives. As the flood completely destroyed the association's office, Help sponsored the furnishing of the new premises.
Überschwemmungen an der LVR-Paul-Klee Schule in Leichlingen
The LVR-Paul-Klee-Schule in Leichlingen was already flooded in 2018. Now the special school for children with disabilities has been hit by floodwater again, and so badly that the school site is unusable for the time being. The entire stock of learning media, support equipment, play and leisure equipment was destroyed.
Feuerwehrausrüstung in Swisttal-Heimerzheim
Help has supported the Swisttal-Heimerzheim volunteer fire department in procuring important new equipment after the fire department's equipment hall was completely flooded.
Aktion Deutschland Hilft/Claudia Graf
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Spenden Hochwasser Deutschland: Schwere Überschwemmungen in Altenahr

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Last edited on 15.04.2026