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.

Right now some 60 million people around the world are living in limbo, having been forced to flee their homes by war, conflict and persecution. That's more lives uprooted than at any time since World War II.

Under the Biden Administration, we have a chance to rebuild the United States's proud tradition of giving families fleeing war and persecution a chance to live in safety. Here are 12 ways to help refugees in the U.S. right now.

The number of Americans of all political beliefs who support refugees has only increased as the U.S. sees a groundswell of support for Afghans seeking safety.

As thousands of refugees are stranded or risking their lives trying to transit through Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary in extremely cold weather, the IRC and its partners in Serbia are providing winter relief, including clothing, medicine and other emergency aid in some of the most challenging locations.

At first, Muska Haseeb, a refugee from Afghanistan, was scared to come to America. “I cried so much on the plane,” she recalls. “I didn't know anyone, didn’t speak English...how was I going to integrate?”

After his work helping the United States as an interpreter in his native Afghanistan put him in danger, Harris started a new life in America. He shares his story.