International Rescue Committee (IRC)
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Photo Essays

A woman and boy shake hands, part of IRC's program helping Rwanda to rebuild
A health worker and woman meet, part of IRC protection, sexual violence programs
Women sit with a baby, part of the IRC program to reduce infant, maternal deaths
Children stand with food, supplies. The IRC focuses on child protection, health
A woman sits with children and a kit with child protection, education materials
A group stands with goats, part of IRC program to give sustainable economic aid
A man sews, part of IRC programs to provide job training, economic support

Inside our work in Rwanda

Rwanda
05.10.2011

The IRC has been working in Rwanda since the 1994 genocide and continues to help Rwandans on their difficult path to recovery with economic and emotional support and vital services like health care. 

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Young men sit outside. The IRC will help them find jobs with livelihood programs
A woman reads and uses a typewriter, part of IRC women's empoyerment program
Women pour murky water into a pot to boil it. IRC gives access to clean water
Women walk down a solitary road; IRC helps protect women against sexual violence
A woman with her baby speaks to a doctor in an IRC health clinic
An IRC staff membewalks through the streets, encouraging community participation
Three women address a group meeting part of IRC supported civil society
Ivorian refugees arrive in Liberia and are greeted by IRC staff and supplies
Refugees from Ivory Coast stand in their cramped, temporary home in Liberia

Inside our work in Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast
05.06.2011

Ivory Coast has been unstable for almost a decade, and since beginning our work there in 2003, the IRC has supported its citizens in times of peace and conflict.

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Children play on a dirty beach; the IRC helps improve health and sanitation
A mother bathes her child as part of health care, child protection programs
A health worker examines a child at a clinic; the IRC gives training, supplies
Children sit in school; the IRC supports teachers, provides educational material
A woman stands outside; the IRC supports survivors of sexual assualt, abuse
A woman stands near the auto shop where she works as a mechanic
A woman farms her land; the IRC helps farmers grow more to eat and sell
A boy waits to receive an immunization, part of IRC emergency response

Inside our work in Liberia

Liberia
05.06.2011

Years of civil war and unrest have left Liberia in a state of disrepair, but the IRC has been there to help Liberians restore education, health care and safety.

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A mother and daughter sit outside their makeshift home made of sticks and fabric
A community doctor gives a child a medical exam
A woman feeds her malnourished child nutritious porridge
A woman and child sit outside their shelter
A man compares a bottle of dirty water and a bottle of clean, treated water
Girls write and study together as part of the IRC's education program
A Sudanese child peers through a rip in a tent wall in Chad
Sudanese mother and baby in a refugee camp in Chad

Inside our work in Chad

Darfur Refugees, Chad
05.04.2011

A quarter million people have fled into Chad from neighboring Sudan to escape the brutal fighting there. The IRC has responded by providing lifesaving support and services to help them stay safe and healthy until they can return home.

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A man sits outside his home listening to his radio for news
A woman stands to speak in a small community group outside.
Children fetch water from a well and carry it home on their heads
Young children carry containers of clean water on a path and smile
A woman and four young children sit together outside their small home.
<p>As Burundians moved within the country and crossed borders to escape the unrest, many young people were uprooted. Now as they return home, the IRC is helping them get back to work by teaching them job skills.</p>
A woman carries a heavy load of firewood in a bundle on her head
A woman addresses a large group of women outside

Inside our work in Burundi

Burundi
05.03.2011

As Burundians return home after twelve years of civil war, many are struggling to rebuild their lives without proper resources and opportunities. The IRC is encouraging renewal and providing support during this time of tenuous peace.

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Men holding guns stand against a wall
Two men lay bricks in a community rebuilding project
Mothers feed their babies with nutritious food from IRC emergency supplies
IRC staff with children in a Child-Friendly Space, part of child protection
Children in school as part of IRC education program
A mother sits near her baby in a health clinic.
A young boy sits near a murky river where he has walked to collect water
IRC staff sits with a woman as part of efforts to end and treat sexual violence
A woman sews for her small business supported by IRC's employment program
IRC staff member carries a baby in a health clinic

Inside our work in Central African Republic

Central African Republic
05.03.2011

The IRC is providing vital services to the people of the Central African Republic (CAR) as they struggle to survive in a time of uncertainty. We are also educating them about their legal and human rights and the importance of cooperation and community building.

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A man holds up his voting registration card for the referendum
Children and a woman stand outside in their village
A soldier walks through a town, part of efforts to end violence and help rebuild
A family stands outside a IRC health center
A pharmasist sits and gives medicine to patients at a health clinic
A woman and her babies sit in an IRC health center for maternal health care
A woman stands in her village, part of an IRC community group to empower women.
A woman carries her baby on an open isolated road, vulnerable to sexual violence
Children sit and sleep on a ledge; the IRC helps protect and educate children.
A child and IRC staff sit together; the IRC helps people recover and rebuild
Mothers sit with their young children outside an IRC health clinic
A woman stands near her temporary shelter made of sticks and plastic sheeting
Sudanese people stand, look hopeful for peace, which IRC supports with programs

South Sudan: Aiding a new country

South Sudan
05.01.2011

The IRC has been operating in South Sudan for over two decades, addressing the consequences of conflict and limited resources, and we will continue to aid the new country with health care, sustainable development, support for education and human rights, and more. (Posted May 2011)

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<p>Zubeda was selected by her neighbors as the community health volunteer for their village, Agusha, which lies near the Southern Sudan border. Here she asks a mother about her child&#39;s health problems.</p>
<p>Makuoya, a health volunteer serving another remote village in the region, observes a baby to see if he has pneumonia symptoms. The baby&#39;s mother told Makuoya that he had been unable to breastfeed.</p>
<p>When a child stops breastfeeding, that&#39;s a danger sign for Makuoya. She fills out a referral form to give to the baby&rsquo;s mother, so that she can take him to a health center for care.</p>
<p>As she hands the mother the referral form, Makuoya advises her to keep trying to feed her child even if he seems unwilling to eat.</p>
<p>Zubieda Abdullahi, one of four community health volunteers in the large village of Afacizm, prepares the first dose of a treatment to show this baby&#39;s mother how to give the drugs at home.</p>
<p>Zubieda gives advice to the mother about the importance of completing the course of treatment and not sharing the medication with any other child. Sometimes mothers stop giving the treatment as soon as they feel the child has recovered, and keep the remaining tablets in case any of their other kids fall sick.</p>
<p>Amina Fereja, a community health worker from the village of Amba, shows a mother how to give her child oral rehydration salts and zinc for diarrhea.</p>
<p>Kedija Mohammed, a community health worker from another village, Oura, fills out her register after seeing a malnourished child and his mother. Health volunteers record all of the information about their young patients&#39; cases in these books.</p>

Health volunteers

Health, Ethiopia
04.25.2011

The IRC has trained 11,000 villagers in six countries in Africa to provide lifesaving care for children in their communities who are suffering from malaria and other common illnesses. In the last six years, health volunteers like these women from a remote region of Ethiopia have provided over 1 million treatments to sick children.

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Distributing emergency supplies to earthquake survivors
Neighborhood in Ishinomaki, Japan that was destroyed in the quake and tsunami
Ground floor filled by Japan tsunami sludge and vehicles
Japan earthquake survivors help out in a soup kitchen
JEN staff distributing emergency supplies for earthquake and tsunami survivors
Two Peace Winds Japan workers distribute boxes of emergency supplies
Japanese earthquake survivors heat water for tea in a temporary shelter
Distributing aid supplies to Japanese earthquake survivors
A young Japanese quake survivor in an evacuation center

Aiding quake survivors

Asia, Japan
04.14.2011

The IRC is supporting the relief efforts of three Japanese aid groups assisting survivors of the earthquake and tsunami that  devastated northeastern Japan in March 2011.

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L to R: Principal Brad Sorenson, student Austin Emch, and IRC's Patrick Poulin
Patrick Poulin and Elyse Yerman at the check presentation event
<p>During the drive, students conducted fundraising activities ranging from odd jobs like shoveling snow, to singing on street corners, holding a kiss a llama event and staging a benefit concert.</p>
<p>&quot;What you have done has literally saved lives over the next several months,&quot; IRC director Patrick Poulin told the students. &quot;Even those of us who are humanitarians, you inspire us.&quot;</p>

Students raise $81,000 for refugees

US - Salt Lake City, UT
04.06.2011

Riverton High School outside Salt Lake City has rallied to the cause of refugees and the IRC with results that would put most professional fundraisers to shame. Students also volunteered with the IRC and went out of their way to learn about the refugee experience.

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