Red Cross refocuses aid budget on threat of climate change

GENEVA (AFP) – The international Red Cross said on Monday it will refocus its budget and aid appeals for the coming year to better meet the growing threat of climate change and associated natural disasters.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched an appeal for 326 million Swiss francs (292 million dollars, 198 million euros) for 2008, saying that some three quarters of this aid will go towards health operations and disaster management.


The aid agency expects to launch another appeal for the same amount of money for 2009.

“For many people, climate change tends to be seen as more of an environmental, scientific or political issue,” IFRC policy and communications head Encho Gospodinov told journalists.

“We believe it must also be seen as a humanitarian issue, first and foremost, an issue that is already impacting on the lives of millions of vulnerable people around the world,” he added.

AFP