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ICRC Approves 17% Budget Cut for 2026, Plans 2,900 Job Reductions

Shrinking donations, driven by a pivot to defense, have strained humanitarian budgets worldwide.

Overview

  • The Geneva-based organization set a 2026 budget of 1.8 billion Swiss francs, down from this year by 17 percent.
  • About 2,900 positions will be eliminated, equal to roughly 15 percent of the workforce, with around one-third achieved through voluntary exits and unfilled vacancies.
  • ICRC will concentrate resources on priority conflict zones including Sudan, Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • Leaders cite a severe funding shortfall as governments redirect spending toward defense, with reporting noting U.S. foreign aid overhauls under President Donald Trump.
  • ICRC warns needs already exceed resources, pointing to more than 130 active armed conflicts and stressing its neutral role from frontline relief to prisoner and hostage transfers.