Of the ICRC's ten most important operations, all except Ukraine are underfunded.
Keystone / Lefteris Pitarakis
The Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is facing a big funding gap this year. Unless donors step up, it might have to cut its operations, ICRC director Robert Mardini has told Swiss media.
This content was published on
2 minutes
RTS/Keystone-SDA/jc
Italiano
it
Il CICR teme un deficit senza precedenti a causa della guerra in Ucraina
The ICRC’s planned budget of CHF2.79 billion ($2.99 billion) could face a shortfall of up to CHF700 million in 2023, Mardini told Le Temps newspaper on Tuesday. “If this is confirmed, we will no longer have the means to help people in the places most difficult to reach, where our presence is most important,” he said.
This situation is not unique to the ICRC. “There are obviously fewer donations for humanitarian aid in general,” Mardini told Swiss public radio RTS, but the trend is becoming more pronounced with the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Communities affected by other crises are also being forgotten, he said.
Of the 10 most important operations of the ICRC, which celebrates its 160th anniversary this year, only Ukraine has a positive funding outlook. All other operations (Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria) are underfunded, Mardini told RTS.
“Today we are sounding the alarm for those communities that are hardest hit by the combined effects of conflict, climate change, the consequences of Covid-19 and the overall consequences of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine,” said the ICRC director-general. “These communities can no longer make ends meet and our response must be increased to help meet their basic needs.”
Popular Stories
More
Life & Aging
Zurich: how the world capital of housing shortages is tackling the problem
In Switzerland more people are being referred to electrical therapies or psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Are there similar approaches where you live?
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
Swiss parties spent less than CHF1 million on February green vote
This content was published on
Swiss political parties spent CHF 700,000 ($840,000) on campaigns in the run-up to the overwhelmingly defeated vote on February 9, according to the Swiss Federal Audit Office.
This content was published on
Swisswool, the largest Swiss wool processor, is not accepting any wool for the first time this spring. For many sheep farmers, the only option is to get rid of the wool.
Swiss appeal to US Treasury Secretary for better cooperation
This content was published on
Swiss Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter met her US counterpart, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in Washington on Thursday.
This content was published on
After reaching a low point at the end of 2024, the Swiss job market showed the first signs of a slight recovery in the first quarter.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
ICRC President wants to travel to Moscow
This content was published on
The president of the Geneva-based ICRC, Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, says it is important to talk to all parties in the Ukraine war – including Russia.
Red Cross visits more POWs held by Russia and Ukraine
This content was published on
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says that in recent weeks it has visited more prisoners of war held by Russia and Ukraine.
This content was published on
Mirjana Spoljaric Egger will become the first woman to head the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Complex challenges await her.
Explainer: what can the Red Cross do and not do in Ukraine?
This content was published on
The ICRC fears false information about its work is putting at risk its staff and those it seeks to help. Here is what you should know.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.