Germany to give $1.4 billion to Holocaust survivors globally in 2024

Germany has agreed to extend another $1.4 billion overall for Holocaust survivors around the globe for the coming year

The organisation that handles claims on behalf of Jews who suffered under the Nazis said on June 15 that Germany has agreed to extend another $1.4 billion (€1.29 billion ) overall for Holocaust survivors around the globe for the coming year.

The compensation was negotiated with Germany's Finance Ministry and includes $888.9 million to provide home care and supportive services for frail and vulnerable Holocaust survivors.

Additionally, increases of $175 million to symbolic payments of the Hardship Fund Supplemental Programme have been achieved, impacting more than 128,000 Holocaust survivors globally, according to the New York-based Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, also referred to as the Claims Conference.

“Every year these negotiations become more and more critical as this last generation of Holocaust survivors age and their needs increase," said Greg Schneider, the Claims Conference’s Executive Vice President.

"Being able to ensure direct payments to survivors in addition to the expansions to the social welfare services is essential in making sure every Holocaust survivor is taken care of for as long as it is required, addressing each individual need,” Mr. Schneider added.

The Hardship Fund Supplemental Payment was originally established to be a one-time payment, negotiated during the COVID-19 lockdowns and eventually resulted in three supplemental payments for eligible Holocaust survivors. This year, Germany again agreed to extend the Hardship Payment, which was set to end in December 2023, through 2027.

Also read: Holocaust-era horrors