ICRC Places Yemen, Sudan, and Ukraine at the Top of Its 2026 Priorities
Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has appealed to the international community for financial support totaling 1.8 billion Swiss francs to fund its humanitarian operations in 2026. The Committee emphasized that this amount represents the bare minimum required to protect and assist those affected by armed conflicts worldwide.
The ICRC explained that the number of active armed conflicts has more than doubled over the past fifteen years, with the figure expected to reach approximately 130 conflicts by the start of 2026. It noted that the disregard for or violation of International Humanitarian Law leads to worsening human suffering and widespread abuses.
The Committee pointed out that civilians bear the greatest burden of these conflicts, with hundreds of thousands of casualties, millions forced into displacement, and the destruction of livelihoods and vital infrastructure. Many families continue to search for missing loved ones, noting that the most vulnerable groups—such as children, women, the wounded, and people with disabilities—are the hardest hit.
In light of escalating conflicts and shrinking humanitarian funding, the ICRC confirmed it has taken steps to restructure its operations to ensure greater flexibility and efficiency, aiming to reduce the impact of financial constraints on its activities in line with its 2024–2027 institutional strategy. It stressed that protection will remain the core of its work in 2026.
The Committee affirmed that it will concentrate its resources in 2026 on the regions most affected by conflict, led by Yemen, alongside Israel and the occupied territories, Sudan, and Ukraine. Priority will be given to life-saving activities; in Yemen, the focus will be on supporting essential services such as water and electricity, enhancing healthcare services, providing food, shelter, and cash assistance, and supporting livelihoods.
The ICRC explained that it will work closely with affected communities and its partners in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to ensure that protection and assistance activities are implemented in a timely manner to maximize their humanitarian impact.
It concluded by stressing that meeting the growing needs in an increasingly unstable world requires steadfast international support to ensure that humanitarian aid continues to reach those in most desperate need, particularly those affected by the conflict in Yemen.
