Red Cross says conflict in Syria and Iraq causing 'alarming' $82m hole in finances

[unhappycamper]

http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/sep/30/red-cross-says-conflict-in-syria-and-iraq-causing-alarming-82m-hole-in-finances

Humanitarian organisation warns that unless operational needs in the Middle East are met, more refugees will attempt hazardous journey to Europe

Red Cross says conflict in Syria and Iraq causing 'alarming' $82m hole in finances
Clár Ní Chonghaile
Wednesday 30 September 2015 02.00 EDT

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) urgently needs funds to cover an unprecedented budget shortfall caused by the conflict in Syria and Iraq, a senior official said, warning that unless needs are met in the region, more refugees will make the hazardous journey to Europe.

Robert Mardini, the ICRC’s regional director for the Middle East, said the funding gap for operations in Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon reached “the alarming figure” of 80m Swiss francs ($82m) for 2015 in late September.

“Humanitarian response is a sticking plaster, but this sticking plaster is indispensable in Syria, Iraq and the neighbouring countries today. Normally at this time of the year our activities in major war zones are fully funded. This year they are not,” Mardini said.

~snip~

The finances of the world’s oldest humanitarian organisation act as a microcosm for a global humanitarian system straining under the weight of multiple crises, at a time when national budgets in many countries are being squeezed by austerity measures. Even when funding levels are higher, they may fail to meet global needs.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. After they completely wasted all of the money donated for Haiti

a lot of folks are leery about contributing to them these days.