While Gaza remains a major concern, the humanitarian situation has also deteriorated in many other parts of the world, especially in Africa, due to armed conflict and the impact of climate change. According to UN figures, more than 30 million people in Sudan and 21 million in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), for example, depend on humanitarian aid. Growing numbers of people in the Middle East and Asia are also in need of assistance, including some 20 million in Yemen and Myanmar.
With the US aid freeze, humanitarian organisations are facing difficult choices on the ground. In many contexts, this means rationing food aid, closing health centres, or suspending the distribution of medicines.
Bulk of remaining budget
In view of these worrying trends, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has decided to use the bulk of its remaining budget in 2025 to respond to major humanitarian disasters. In practice, this means that CHF 28 million will be released, with CHF 13.5 million allocated to Africa and CHF 6.9 million to the Middle East. Just over 50% of the total, i.e. CHF 14.5 million, will be earmarked for ICRC operations. The residual amount will be paid to the UN's emergency funds to support the activities of local organisations in contexts which are particularly affected by crises and disasters.
These funds, which are managed by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), align with the needs identified in the UN's Global Humanitarian Overview 2025.
The disbursement is being made halfway through the year. This leaves the SDC with CHF 3 million to respond to any sudden-onset disasters, including earthquakes, cyclones or floods, before the end of the year. This early decision to release emergency funding is in recognition of the acute, ongoing humanitarian needs around the world.
The SDC's emergency funds can be mobilised rapidly in response to unforeseen developments or a sudden deterioration in an existing situation. It can therefore swiftly release the funds needed for humanitarian responses from its regular budget. For 2025, the SDC initially earmarked CHF 41 million for these purposes. Earlier this year, it drew down funds in response to the earthquake in Myanmar at the end of March and the worsening crisis in the eastern DRC in February and in Sudan.
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Address for enquiries:
FDFA Communication Bundeshaus West 3003 Bern +41 58 460 55 55 kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
