 "Red Cross vehicles transport a body, identified by Hamas as deceased Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin, in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, November 9, 2025. Reuters")
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will cut nearly one-fifth of its annual budget in 2026, reducing its spending to $2.2 billion and shedding 2,900 jobs as global donor funding continues to dwindle.
The organisation has warned that the wider humanitarian sector is facing a “financial crisis of unprecedented proportions” due to cuts in aid funding. While the United States remains the ICRC’s largest donor, its contribution has decreased this year, along with similar reductions from other major donors like the United Kingdom and Germany.
ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating, “We face a dangerous convergence of escalating armed conflicts, significant cuts to aid funding and a systemic tolerance for grave breaches of international humanitarian law.”
Despite the financial difficulties, Spoljaric reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to working in conflict zones, but noted that “the financial reality is forcing us to make difficult decisions to ensure we can continue to deliver critical humanitarian assistance to those who need it most.”
Major restructuring
In response to the funding shortfalls, the ICRC will implement significant restructuring, including merging departments, streamlining management, and focusing resources on high-priority frontline operations.
This overhaul will result in a 15 per cent reduction in the organisation’s 18,500-strong workforce, with approximately 200 positions being cut in Geneva, where the ICRC was founded in 1863. Around a third of the staff reductions will come through voluntary departures or leaving positions unfilled.
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View AllDespite the budget cuts, the ICRC has emphasised its continued presence in critical areas of conflict. Spoljaric stated, “The ICRC remains committed to working on the front lines of conflict,” and assured that the organisation will maintain operations in Sudan, Ukraine, Israel, Palestine, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The ICRC continues to provide vital humanitarian aid, including visits to prisoners of war, and acts as a neutral intermediary in international conflicts, remaining a key player in global humanitarian efforts despite financial and operational challenges.