The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is appealing for 2.8 billion Swiss francs to help it meet the humanitarian needs of people affected by armed conflicts and other situations of violence in 2023. There are more than 100 armed conflicts in the world alongside other situations of violence. The suffering they cause, combined with climate shocks and rising food and energy prices, will make 2023 a year of vast humanitarian needs.
In 2023, the ICRC will mark 160 years of working with victims of conflict and violence, and supporting the communities that live with this threat. From the start, the ICRC and other members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement have together delivered neutral and impartial humanitarian services around the world.
At this moment in history, the international armed conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine has become a global crisis, triggering or exacerbating economic, social, food, and energy insecurity in many other countries. This new humanitarian threat comes in addition to the pressure exerted by the climate crisis on the most vulnerable communities.
Against this backdrop and considering the ICRC’s capacity to deliver, including in partnership with the Movement, the ICRC has planned an increase in operations for 2023 leading to a budget of CHF 2.8 billion. It is an ambitious plan and reflects the ICRC’s expectation that it will be able to return to historically high levels of implementation following the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 crisis. It also underscores the ICRC’s commitment to strengthen the positive difference that it makes in the lives of communities living with conflict and violence, particularly those in areas beyond the reach of public services or over which armed groups exercise control.
The ICRC’s budget for its field operations in 2023 marks an increase of 19% to CHF 2.5 billion; its headquarters budget has increased by 11% to CHF 292 million. The latter reflects, first, the increased support that field operations will require in order to meet the growing and more complex needs. Secondly, it accounts for the greater need for engagement on international humanitarian law (IHL) and for reinforcing the protection activities at the heart of the ICRC’s mandate; many of these are driven from the ICRC’s headquarters, which also leads its humanitarian diplomacy.
Finally, the ICRC is not immune to the financial impact of the challenging economic environment: global inflation is contributing to the ICRC’s budget growth, adding up to CHF 200 million to operational costs.
An impactful ICRC is one that receives support which enables it to act independently and impartially, allocating funds based on needs. Flexible funding will once again ensure the delivery of services in contexts that are out of the limelight, guarantee rapid deployment capacity in the face of new emerging crises, and sustain core ICRC activities. Securing such funds will remain a priority in 2023. Supporters of the ICRC are partners, and the organization continues to work to increase the effectiveness and transparency of its operations and remain the partner of choice for delivering humanitarian services in situations of conflict and violence.