Red Cross to cut 2900 positions due to budget cuts for 2026

The Assembly of the International Committee of the Red Cross has approved a budget for 2026 of CHF 1.8 billion (over $2.2 billion). This is 17% less than this year's budget. This was reported on website organization.

Due to budget cuts, the organization is forced to cut 2,900 staff positions with an emphasis on maintaining field operations. Approximately one third of the cuts will be made through voluntary resignations or unfilled vacancies.

The organization called this a necessary adjustment due to the deteriorating situation due to the reduction of donor funding amid escalating conflicts in the world.

"The ICRC remains committed to working on the frontlines of conflict where few others can operate. But financial realities force us to make difficult decisions to ensure that critical humanitarian assistance is delivered to those who need it most," said ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric.

She urged countries to invest more efforts and resources in conflict prevention and humanitarian protection in line with the growth of defense budgets.

The 2026 budget will ensure the ICRC's work in several major conflict zones, including Sudan, Israel and the occupied territories, Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where its neutral mediation role provides access to frontline communities.

With more than 130 active armed conflicts around the world, many of which have been going on for more than a decade, humanitarian needs exceed available funding, the ICRC emphasized.

The organization stated that any reduction in donor contributions directly reduces the amount of aid available to people in crisis.

• In August 2025, it became known that the UN was forced to reduce its budget and plans to lay off about 3000 employees against the backdrop of reduced US funding.