The Trump travel ban officially expired on October 24, but new vetting measures threaten the safety and stability of those still seeking refuge in the United States.

Months of escalating hostility towards Ukraine have culminated in a concerted invasion of the country and the launch of military attacks across multiple cities in Ukraine starting from February 24th, 2022. As of March 26, 2022, an estimated 2.2M people have fled to Poland from Ukraine. Many have been welcomed by the Ukrainian diaspora in Poland, many more are being hosted by Polish families, and the rest reside in recently established shelters and reception centers. While the Polish government, Polish NGOs, UN agencies, and local civil society actors have provided multisectoral relief across the country, this rapid needs assessment aims to better understand the priority needs, vulnerabilities, and barriers to accessing information, services, and humanitarian support that people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine face in Poland, including those experienced by groups with heightened vulnerability.  This assessment will be used to inform the IRC’s strategic response to these displaced populations in Poland and will be widely shared with the overall humanitarian community, including with Polish civil society and governmental bodies who have provided rapid and much needed relief to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. 

Community health volunteers provided a critical link to Syrian refugees with noncommunicable diseases at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

IRC Caseworker and Congolese refugee Dauda Balubwila worked tirelessly for five years to reunite with the family he left behind in Kenya. Watch the emotional moment as his wife and children step off the plane and into Dauda's arms.