International Rescue Committee (IRC)

The IRC in Liberia

A doctor assists Ivorian refugees at a clinic along the Liberian-Ivorian border
Photo: Peter Biro/The IRC

Liberians are cautiously beginning to rebuild their country after a devastating 15-year civil war left 250,000 dead and destroyed infrastructure and basic services. In addition to helping hundreds of thousands of displaced Liberian families, the International Rescue Committee also protected refugees fleeing violence in nearby Ivory Coast and continues to provide them with health care, education, job training and other important resources as their country treads the difficult road to peace.

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Inside our work in Liberia

  • 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

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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How We Help

  • The IRC supports 33 health care facilities and five hospitals and operates the largest pediatric facility in the capital city, Monrovia.
  • The IRC trains local health workers and conducts health outreach.
  • The IRC’s social workers provide counseling to survivors of sexual violence, abuse and abandonment and work with local action groups to promote fair treatment of women. 
  • The IRC links at-risk girls with employment opportunities and entrepreneurship training.
  • Through a five-year initiative, the IRC educates over 16,000 children and youth.
August 21, 2012 | Blog
The primary threat to women in West Africa is not war or armed gangs, it’s their husbands. The IRC has enlisted the help of 450 marketing students from around the world to raise awareness about domestic violence.