Meet Mustapha and his wife Safaa, who risked their lives in hope of finding safety for their young children in Europe. The family of four fled from the war­ravaged city of Aleppo to Turkey and then took the dangerous boat journey to the Greek island of Lesbos. Mustafa is aware of the backlash against refugees that has engulfed Europe since the Nov.

Last year, the Governor of Texas declared that the state would no longer accept Syrian refugees, citing security concerns after the horrific attacks in Paris. The state demanded that the International Rescue Committee halt its resettlement programs or face a lawsuit. A federal judge on June 16, 2016 dismissed the lawsuit that would have banned refugee resettlement in Texas.

At 10 years old, Heba has known nothing but war in Syria. Three years ago, pain in her leg started making it difficult for her to walk, but attacks on hospitals prevented her from getting the medical attention she needed—until she received care from the IRC and our partners.