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Swiss Contribution to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

The Federal Council pledged today a Headquarters contribution of CHF 70 million to the ICRC for the current year. This support will be provided from the framework credit of Switzerland’s humanitarian aid.

The International Committee of the Red Cross is Switzerland’s most important partner in the field of international humanitarian action. Based on the overall contributions made to the ICRC in 2012, Switzerland is the second-largest donor. Indeed the ICRC has a history of close relations with the Swiss Confederation, particularly as Switzerland is the depositary State of the Geneva Conventions.

The Headquarters contribution is meant to enable the ICRC to perform its challenging task in the service of those most severely affected by crisis and conflict. It is from the Headquarters in Geneva that the ICRC coordinates its missions with more than 80 delegations worldwide.

In addition to this Headquarters contribution, Switzerland has earmarked CHF 44.5 million to finance specific ICRC humanitarian operations in 2013, as well as the cost for 150 new ICRC delegates to mark the 150th anniversary of the Organization (CHF 18.2 million over a period of four years).

Further questions:

René Holenstein,
Head of the Multilateral H Division, SDC +41 31 32 35922 rene.holenstein@deza.admin.ch