Humanitarian aid

In 2023 and 2024, Switzerland has a seat on the UN Security Council, where it is contributing its expertise in global peace and security to discussions and debates. In May 2023, Switzerland held the council presidency. Scroll the newsticker for background information about Switzerland's Security Council activities and statements.

Every day, a great number of Swiss women and men work on the SDC's development cooperation and humanitarian aid projects. In the SDC podcast, they tell us about their projects and provide insight into the lives of local people.

The FDFA's Humanitarian Aid Department has activated a crisis cell and is monitoring the situation in connection with the floods in Libya. The SDC is in the process of adapting ongoing programmes on the ground to the needs of the population affected by the floods. The possible delivery of relief supplies to proven partner organisations on the ground is being examined. The FDFA is not aware of any information on Swiss victims.

Switzerland's support for Ukraine takes many forms: humanitarian aid in the east and south of the country, continuing projects to promote good governance and decentralisation, as well as humanitarian demining. And beyond the immediate needs, the country's reconstruction process is being shaped. The new Swiss ambassador to Ukraine and Moldova, Félix Baumann, is continuing this commitment in Kiev. In a video interview, he explains the priorities and tasks of his new role.

Switzerland has been providing political and financial support for humanitarian demining activities for more than two decades. Many dedicated organisations are based in Geneva. They support countries and populations in the fight against landmines. At the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2023, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis took part in a panel discussion on humanitarian demining on 22 June. What is Switzerland doing in this area?

The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) was set up in 1998 on the initiative of Switzerland, which has supported it financially ever since. Active in some forty countries, it transfers its expertise to mine-affected countries to help them in the fight against landmines. In Ukraine, the GICHD is helping to identify and plan humanitarian demining operations, explains its director, Stefano Toscano. Interview.