Germany to give Holocaust victims $1B for home care and other services

Germany will give $1 billion to Holocaust survivors over the next four years, as per an agreement between Germany's Ministry of Finance and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany, Haaretz reported Tuesday.

The $1 billion (or 772 million euros) will help 146,000 Holocaust survivors around the world. About 56,000 elderly survivors will receive money for home nursing care, while 90,000 will receive funds for medication, clothing, food, blankets and social activities.

According to Germany's Der Spiegel newspaper, the funds become especially important as Holocaust survivors increase in age.

"We are seeing Germany's continued commitment to fulfill its historic obligation to Nazi victims," Stuart Eizenstat, a former United States ambassador and Claims Conference negotiator said.

This ensures that Holocaust survivors, now in their final years, can be confident that we are endeavoring to help them live in dignity, after their early life was filled with indescribable tragedy and trauma. This is all the more impressive since it comes at a time of budget austerity in Germany.