Geneva : The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has reduced its global humanitarian aid appeal for 2026 even as conflicts climate disasters and displacement continue to rise across the world.
The federation said it has cut about 400 million Swiss francs from its original appeal bringing the total request down to around 3.4 billion Swiss francs. The decision comes after major donors reduced or delayed funding leaving aid agencies with fewer resources to respond to growing emergencies.
Officials from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said the funding shortfall has forced difficult choices. Some programmes will be scaled back and priority will be given to life saving assistance and support led by local Red Cross and Red Crescent teams.
The funding squeeze has already had visible effects. The federation confirmed it had to end its support for the Ocean Viking migrant rescue ship operating in the Mediterranean due to lack of funds.
Other activities including disaster preparedness health programmes and support for displaced people may also be affected if new funding does not come in.
The Red Cross decision reflects a wider crisis facing the humanitarian sector. The United Nations and its aid agencies have also reduced their funding appeals for 2026 after donations from key Western countries declined sharply. Aid groups say they are facing the lowest levels of donor support in nearly a decade.
At the same time humanitarian needs are increasing. Wars in Gaza Ukraine and Sudan along with climate related disasters and economic hardship have pushed millions more people into need of food shelter and medical care.
Red Cross leaders warned that unless governments and donors reverse the trend the gap between needs and available aid will continue to widen. They said the consequences will be felt most by vulnerable communities who depend on humanitarian assistance for survival.