According to the organization’s spokesperson, Achille Despres, the reason is a lack of funding.

He said they anticipate a 17% reduction in the annual budget (in 2026). This is the figure their teams are working towards.

This budget must still be approved by the organization’s Assembly before the end of the year, the spokesperson emphasized.

This situation was reported today by the Tribune de Genève newspaper, which reported the possibility of cuts in some activities, particularly Red Cross jobs.

Last April, the organization’s Director-General, Pierre Krahenbuhl, told the Temps newspaper that the ICRC had suspended hiring staff due to uncertainty about the sustainability of funding from the United States.

That nation’s contribution to the Red Cross represents 24% of its budget.

abo/arm/mem/rf