# Costa Rican Red Cross financial crisis

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/costa-rican-red-cross-financial-crisis
> Updated: 2026-09-25T00:58:00.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 3.

The Benemérita Cruz Roja Costarricense is experiencing a financial crisis that has impacted its ability to maintain local operations. This crisis led to the closure of Red Cross headquarters in the San Pablo and San Rafael cantons of Heredia.

Local residents raised concerns that these closures would increase emergency response times, as ambulances would be forced to travel from central Heredia or Santo Domingo, potentially facing delays due to traffic congestion. 

In response to the funding shortage, the organization launched a national fundraising campaign titled ‘Colecta que Salva Vidas’ (Collection that Saves Lives). The institution noted that existing funding is insufficient to cover the rising costs of permanent humanitarian operations and the country’s growing emergency needs. The campaign seeks donations from citizens, businesses, and both public and private organizations to maintain its capacity to provide nationwide assistance.

The scale of the crisis has become more defined, with 66 of the organization’s 134 auxiliary committees currently experiencing economic problems. While the institution stated that no immediate closures are planned, it warned that a lack of sustainable income could force some committees to reduce services in the medium term. This instability follows a decision by the Legislative Assembly to reject a bill that would have included Red Cross public fund contracts within the exceptions of the General Public Procurement Law.

On a local level, the Ciudad Quesada Auxiliary Committee has issued an urgent plea for resources to prevent the closure of its operations, which serve more than 85,000 residents across six districts, including La Palmera, Buena Vista, Florencia, La Tigra, and San Lorenzo.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-25: Cruz Roja Costarricense seeks donations amid financial crisis

The Costa Rican Red Cross is seeking donations to combat financial difficulties affecting 66 of its 134 auxiliary committees and to ensure the continuity of emergency and rescue services nationwide.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cruz-roja-costarricense-seeks-donations-amid-financial-crisis

### 2026-09-23: Cruz Roja Costarricense launches national fundraising campaign

The Costa Rican Red Cross has launched the ‘Colecta que Salva Vidas’ national campaign to combat a financial crisis and strengthen its emergency response and humanitarian services across the country.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cruz-roja-costarricense-launches-national-fundraising-campaign

### 2026-09-20: Red Cross closures in Costa Rica spark emergency service concerns

The Costa Rican Red Cross is closing its San Pablo and San Rafael headquarters in Heredia due to a financial crisis, sparking local fears over delayed emergency response times.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/red-cross-closures-in-costa-rica-spark-emergency-service-concerns

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Cite as: Costa Rican Red Cross financial crisis. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/costa-rican-red-cross-financial-crisis