John Hurt appeals on behalf of the IRC

  Actor John Hurt has made an appeal on behalf of the International Rescue Committee on BBC Radio 4. The star of The Elephant Man, Shooting Dogs and Harry Potter tells the story of Orlando, a boy who fled Liberia in the 1990s. At a refugee camp in neighboring Guinea he was able to continue his education thanks to a programme run by the IRC. Now back in Liberia, the IRC is helping him again, this time at a restored vocational training school for 100 young people. Orlando and the other pupils will learn critical skills as Liberia looks to recover from two decades of war. "I am delighted to support the IRC in this way, John Hurt said. “Such organizations shouldn't have to exist but they do, and we should do all we can to support their excellent and vital work."   IRC-UK executive director Sarah Hughes said that Hurt’s appeal is a measure of the urgency of our work in war-torn and recovering countries around the world. “We're delighted he has lent us his voice and is supporting our appeal to raise funds for those in need of a helping hand on their road to recovery," she said. John Hurt's appeal can be heard here.