The Jewish Claims Conference announced plans to significantly increase its funding to social service organizations around the world serving Jewish Holocaust victims.
Funds are specifically geared to organizations caring for elderly Holocaust survivors who are in increasingly poor health.
In a statement Monday, the Jewish Claims Conference said that allocations for 2015 will total $365 million dollars, an increase of $80 million, or 21 percent, over 2014.
The extra funds are due to an increase in allocations from Germany, according to the Jewish Claims Conference.
In total, Germany has paid around $87 billion in compensation for Nazi crimes during World War II, primarily to Jewish survivors. Following negotiations in 2014, they agreed to dole out an additional $785 million for home care through 2017.
Additional funding comes from the recovery of Jewish properties in former East Germany, as well as the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the Austrian government and the Swiss Banks Settlement.
Julius Berman, President of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, announced in the statement that the funds will be used primarily for home care as well as other vital needs.
These include hunger relief, medical care, winter aid, and transportation for Holocaust survivors in 47 countries.
The Jewish Claims Conference will also continue to distribute individual compensation payments to Holocaust survivors.
“All Shoah victims should be able to receive the help and support that they need to live the rest of their lives in dignity, after having endured indescribable suffering in their youth,” Berman said.
“Holocaust victims deserve all the aid and comfort that it is possible to give them in the twilight of their lives.”