Operations in Afghanistan under-funded: ICRC

KABUL (Pajhwok): The International Committee of the Red Cross says its operations in Afghanistan and Iraq are under-funded.

The funding crisis has been triggered by the outbreak of the coronavirus, ICRC President Peter Maurer was quoted as saying on Saturday.

The shortfall in funding of ICRC’s operations in Afghanistan and Iraq comes at a time when people’s needs are skyrocketing and economic crises are looming.

The international humanitarian organisation has launched an appeal for 2.3 billion Swiss Francs in 2021 to support its activities in support of those impacted by conflicts.

For Iraq, ICRC needs 123.8 million Swiss Francs and in Afghanistan, its requirement is 88.5 million Swiss Francs to continue its operations.

“Laying the groundwork for stabilisation, humanitarian work remains severely underfunded,” the ICRC president told The National.

He noted the outbreak of the coronavirus had seen some “donor states reallocate funds to domestic issues”.

“We urge you to keep human security as your focus – without it we risk chronic instability and cycles of violence without an end,” he remarked.

PAN Monitor/mud

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