Eight months since borders closed across the Balkan route, leaving tens of thousands stranded across Europe, refugees have no choice but to live in tents and other shelters unsuited for freezing temperatures. The IRC warns that children, the elderly and other vulnerable people may die on European soil this winter unless immediate action is taken.

With support from the Utah Bar Foundation and other funding partners, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Salt Lake City alongside four local legal service providers—Catholic Community Services of Utah, Comunidades Unidas, Holy Cross Ministries, and Immigrant Legal Services—is excited to announce the launch of the Utah Immigration Collaborative, a community solution to providing broader, more cohesive legal immigration services to immigrants in the Beehive State.

To better gauge Afghans’ hopes and fears regarding the future of the country, IRC researchers consulted 136 of the 650 Afghans who serve on our staff across the country. This report highlights their observations and outlines recommendations for international engagement in Afghanistan beyond 2014.

Learn more about the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and how humanitarian organizations are delivering aid to affected communities.