Red Cross chief urges states to resolve conflicts as humanitarian sector faces funding cuts

ISTANBUL

Pierre Krehenbuhl, director-general of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has called on states to step up efforts to resolve protracted conflicts as humanitarian organizations struggle with shrinking budgets.

Although humanitarian actors are being asked to “do more with less,” it is the responsibility of states to address the root causes of crises, Krahenbuhl warned in a special interview published by Swiss daily Le Temps on Thursday.

"In conflicts that drag on, (states) tend to get used to the fact that they last and that the humanitarians are there anyway," said Krehenbuhl, who took office a year ago with a mandate to reform the ICRC amid a severe financial crisis.

The ICRC chief stressed that humanitarian action alone is not sufficient and called for stronger political engagement.

"We especially need states to try to resolve the conflicts in question. A part of the system needs to change, which has relied too heavily on humanitarians. A more forceful political action is more necessary than ever. It is regrettable to note that some see dialogue and mediation as a sign of weakness."

He also expressed concern over a widespread shift in donor priorities and the impact of funding cuts, most notably from the Trump administration, on international institutions based in Geneva, including dozens of UN agencies and NGOs.

"Yes, everyone is very worried. The cuts made in International Geneva are a collective wound," he said.

According to Krehenbuhl, several UN agencies, including the International Organization for Migration, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and the World Health Organization, have been forced to eliminate thousands of jobs worldwide, including in Geneva.

The ICRC’s own budget fell from 2.8 billion to 2.1 billion Swiss francs in 2023-2024, prompting the elimination of 4,500 jobs and the scaling back of several missions.

"It's entirely legitimate for humanitarian work to be questioned. (...) We can be told to do better with less," he said. "But states must also be consistent."

Krahenbuhl pointed out that the US is not the only country to cut humanitarian funding. "Several European states are doing the same, saying they need to prioritize national defense and rearmament, reducing their support for humanitarian efforts."

"With the multiplication of conflicts and a partial disengagement of some donors, the humanitarian sector is facing a particularly critical situation," he added.

Reflecting on the global tendency to normalize war, Krahenbuhl said: "The nonchalance with which human beings go to war, only to say later 'never again,' is very troubling."