The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has asked its donors for more than 2 billion Swiss Francs to fund its operations in 2018, to assist and protect millions of people affected by conflict and other situations of violence.
The appeal, which marks an 11.6% increase in the ICRC's 2017 field budget, will allow the organization to continue responding to the most urgent needs of people caught up in conflict in the world's most challenging hotspot such as in Syria, Iraq, South Sudan, DR Congo and Yemen.
At a briefing in Geneva yesterday, ICRC president Peter Maurer thanked donors for their continued support and trust in the organisation's mission and mandate.
"The ICRC is deeply concerned by the number and scale of protracted conflicts the world is facing today. Both their immediate and longer-term consequences on the millions of people affected should alarm us all. While some of these conflicts are often in the news, many are overlooked, out of the public spotlight. We are appealing for donors' support to make sure these people are not forgotten," said Mr Maurer.
The majority of the ICRC's activities remains focused in increasingly complex conflicts, supporting basic services and support systems that are vital to the lives of the general public. The challenges are particularly acute in cities, where schools, hospitals, water and electricity systems are often damaged and destroyed over years of fighting.
"With its privileged access to militaries and armed groups, the ICRC works to prevent violations of international humanitarian law and to protect civilians from the worst impacts of conflict. We call on donors to continue supporting ICRC's response to both unforeseen emergencies and long-term needs of communities ravaged by years of war," added Mr Maurer.
In the briefing, Mr Maurer underlined the need for funding to remain flexible and non-earmarked, to ensure the ICRC can continue to deliver aid purely on the basis of need.
For further information, please contact:
Christoph Hanger, ICRC Geneva, +41 79 574 06 36
