The IRC launched the Client Voice and Choice Initiative to meet the strategic commitment of becoming more responsive to its clients—those people affected by conflict and disaster around the world. This report analyzes data collected from client feedback during those pilots in Greece, Kenya, South Sudan, and southern Syria.

While wealthier nations begin to offer already fully vaccinated populations a third dose, many countries lag far behind – and many vulnerable populations are struggling to even obtain their first. In the 20 countries identified by IRC at greatest risk of a major new – or significantly worsened – humanitarian crisis over 2021, only 2.4 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated, and less than 5 percent of the population has received a single dose of the vaccine. This inequity will stall the global fight against COVID-19 while making the everyday reality for those living in conflict zones and protracted displacement contexts much graver, as COVID-19 will continue to exacerbate existing humanitarian crises, driving poverty, hunger, and insecurity. To bridge gaps in global response and center vulnerable populations in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, we make five central recommendations for global leaders and institutions in this brief. 

IRC staff were on the ground in Poland before the conflict began to monitor the situation and identify where we could be most effective. Go inside our response working with partners in Poland and Ukraine.

Routine immunizations protect individuals, communities, countries, and even the world from outbreaks of deadly diseases and pandemics. While global immunization coverage has increased dramatically in the past two decades, this is driven largely by gains in stable contexts. Children in humanitarian settings, including conflict-affected, remote regions, and cross-border communities continue to disproportionately lack access to this foundational health service.