ICRC finances stabilized again after drastic job cuts
Published: Wednesday, Dec 20th 2023, 13:10
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The finances of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are back in the black following drastic job cuts. In addition, various countries have increased their support, including Switzerland.
The organization's financial situation has stabilized, said ICRC President Spoljaric Egger in an interview with the French-speaking Swiss newspaper "Le Temps" published on Wednesday. A total of 4,000 jobs are to be cut for 2023 and 2024.
This means that around 18,500 people worldwide will still be working for the Geneva-based organization next year. The ICRC's budget for 2024 is around 2.1 billion Swiss francs. That is 13 percent less than this year. In particular, the programs in Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine and South Sudan have been cut, an ICRC spokeswoman told the Keystone-SDA news agency.
The reasons for the organization's major financial difficulties include the increase in international conflicts, a focus on the war in Ukraine so that there is a lack of international aid elsewhere, and a general lack of donations in view of the large number of these crises, as well as inflation.
Increased support for the countries
The traditional donor countries also provided valuable support in overcoming this year's deficit, the ICRC President continued in the interview. China, Brazil and European countries such as Croatia and Slovenia had increased their support. In addition, South Korea is a new donor country and cooperation with the Gulf States has been strengthened.
She also recalled Switzerland's support. The Federal Council agreed to provide support amounting to CHF 50 million and to defer repayment of a loan. The canton of Geneva also took action. It has granted the ICRC extraordinary aid of CHF 39.7 million for the year 2023.
The ICRC has grown steadily over the last ten years. Critics inside and outside the institution have spoken of "uncontrolled growth".
©Keystone/SDA
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