Swiss pledge funds for ICRC’s humanitarian efforts
The ICRC was founded in Geneva in 1863. Its mandate is to protect victims of international and internal armed conflicts under international humanitarian law
Keystone
The government has decided to support the Geneva headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with an annual contribution of CHF80 million ($83.9 million).
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“Switzerland’s contribution allows the ICRC to provide aid efficiently to people affected by conflict and give targeted support to its delegations in over 80 countries,” the foreign ministry said.
The funds are also expected to help boost the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the statement added.
It specifies that the ICRC’s policy of neutrality has enabled the organisation to provide over 200,000 mostly Rohingya people, caught in a conflict in Rakhine state in Myanmar, with food.
In addition to the headquarter contribution, Switzerland has also earmarked nearly CHF61 million to fund specific ICRC humanitarian operations this year.
The foreign ministry says Switzerland is the fifth largest contributor to the ICRC’s overall budget and it has a long history of close relations as a depositary state of the Geneva Conventions – which form the core of international humanitarian law.
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