Humanity in action: What was our impact in 2019?

Scroll down to see the impact our work had last year

Download the full report here

For over 150 years, we at the ICRC have protected and assisted victims of armed conflict and other violence wherever they are in the world. Because we are on-site, we know first-hand what the situation is and what people need. We also help out when natural disasters strike in conflict zones and when our specific know-how can make a difference.

2019: Where we helped and how our funding was spent

 

We worked in more than 100 countries 

billion Swiss francs

field expenditure in 2019 

of every donation went to the field

6.5% was used at headquarters

 

Numbers in detail

 

Top ten operations
by expenditure (in CHF millions)

Syria 173.9
South Sudan 132.7
Iraq 111.1
Nigeria 89.4
Yemen 87.7
Democratic Republic of the Congo 84.2
Afghanistan 73.1
Ukraine 69.6
Somalia 63.7
Myanmar 55.7

Expenditure
by programme

23.5% Economic security
12.4% Water and habitat
6.7% Primary health care
10% First aid and hospital care
4.9% Physical rehabilitation
0.6% Weapon contamination
6.8% Restoring family links
1.8% Forensics
10.7% Activities for detainees
15.1% Protecting the vulnerable and promoting the law
5.8% Partnering with National Societies
1.7% Other

The people we helped, in figures

Economic security


people received food or assistance for
buying food


people had their incomes
boosted

Learn more >

Health care


hospitals received supplies
and other assistance


patients had their hospital
costs covered

Learn more >

Physical rehabilitation


people benefited from physical
rehabilitation services


physical rehabilitation projects
received ICRC support

Learn more >

Restoring family links


phone calls were made between
family members


people, including 773 children,
were reunited with their families

Learn more >

Overview of what we do >

 

How we helped

The stories of survival, recovery and growth highlighted here represent just a fraction of what was achieved in 2019. These stories – and many more like them – are only possible thanks to supporters and partners like you. We thank you.

CASH SUPPORT - SUITCASES AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES: Where do you start, when you’ve lost everything? We provided cash support to returnee families in the DRC, allowing them to decide for themselves what they needed most.
HEALTH CARE - FIGHTING MALARIA IN VENEZUELA: Living in an area with a high density of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes, Rosa is relieved to know her family will be protected while they rest, thanks to the mosquito nets we provided.
MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT - HELPING THE HELPERS: The Caring for Caregivers programme gives public service professionals training to strengthen their mental health and help them develop the skills they need for operating in a crisis.
PHYSICAL REHABILITATION - REPAIRING MINDS AND BODIES: As a young boy, Zabih Erfani was once a patient at an ICRC-run physical rehabilitation centre. Now, he’s a physiotherapist working with us helping patients get back on their feet.
RESTORING FAMILY LINKS - SEPARATED IN SECONDS: A split-second decision in the chaos of conflict can make all the difference. Nyirarukundo and Jean Baptiste were separated from their daughters. Two years later, we found the girls and were able to bring the family back together.

THANKS TO YOU


Last year, you enabled us to respond to the urgent needs of individuals, families and communities across more than 100 countries.

Together, we are humanity in action.

Download the full report here

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