Red Cross launches fund appeal

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The International Committee of the Red Cross is launching its funding appeal for 2007 in Geneva on Thursday.

The organisation is asking for one billion Swiss francs ($800m) to fund its worldwide operations.

Africa remains the biggest commitment, but there are also huge increases in funding for operations in the Palestinian territories and Iraq.

The organisation's primary function is to bring relief to victims of armed conflict.

The Red Cross also makes visits to detainees and prisoners of war.

Palestine funding

When the international community suspended funding to the Palestinian authority following the election of Hamas, the International Red Cross warned that aid agencies could not be expected to fill the gap.

But almost 12 months later Israel and the occupied territories have jumped to number two on the Red Cross funding list.

The appeal for 2007 is almost $60m - a 66% increase.

Life for ordinary people in the occupied territories has deteriorated markedly, the Red Cross says and there is no sign things will improve.

Meanwhile, Iraq is in third position.

Some $47m dollars is wanted for 2007 - an increase of 47%.

Sudan remains the Red Cross's biggest operation

But the Red Cross international presence in Iraq is limited and if the security situation remains as bad as it is now, it may not be able to spend all its money.

Once again, Africa will take the biggest share of the ICRC's budget next year - 42% - and Sudan remains the biggest operation worldwide.

Darfur conflict

The Red Cross is appealing for more than $60m for Sudan but that is less than last year because, the Red Cross says, costly food distribution will be replaced by deliveries of seeds and planting tools.

Meanwhile, Chad will get more funding, reflecting the deteriorating humanitarian situation along Chad's border with Darfur.

And the Red Cross is also very concerned about Somalia.

Conflict, drought and now floods have brought disaster to ordinary people there.

The ICRC is asking for $23m but warns that figure may rise over the course of the year.