ICRC appeals for funds to cover 2006 shortfall in key operations

A further 197.8 million Swiss francs is needed to cover the ICRC's operations in 2006. This represents 22.6% of this year’s estimated field expenditure of 875.7 million francs.

ICRC director of operations Pierre Krähenbühl outlined the situation at a donors’ meeting in Geneva today. He pointed out that the level of contributions at the nine-month point is only slightly lower than at the same time last year, leaving the ICRC optimistic that it will be possible to meet outstanding needs for the rest of 2006.

Some high profile operations appear in the top ten list of " outstanding needs. " Five of these are in Africa, including Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda. Top of the list are Israel and the occupied and autonomous territories, Lebanon and Afghanistan.

Pierre Krähenbühl reported that 2006 had seen the emergence of new and unexpected crises in several contexts, such as Lebanon and Sri Lanka, or of increased humanitarian needs such as in Somalia or Israel and the occupied and autonomous territories. These situations and dangerous operating conditions had represented significant challenges to ICRC operations.

Governments continue to be the ICRC’s main donors, accounting for 90.9% of the 2006 contributions to date. A further 7.2% comes from national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies and 1.8% from public and private sources.

Pierre Krähenbühl thanked governments for their continued support for the ICRC's neutral and independent humanitarian action in many conflicts where civilians, particularly women, children and the elderly, continue to bear the brunt of the impact of war.