Mahsa, a young, bright, and promising student, had recently completed her high school education in Afghanistan and was eagerly pursuing her academic aspirations at a public university. During the Utah legislative session, she used her voice and her story to help pass a bill that enabled refugees to obtain in-state tuition rates at Utah universities.

The only Afghan grocery store in Georgia, Baseer’s Kabul Market has been an invaluable resource for the community as we welcome families who were recently evacuated from Afghanistan by the US. Since mid-October, the IRC in Atlanta has purchased more than 100 hot welcome meals from Kabul Market along with countless loaves of traditional Afghan bread!

The continuing war in Ukraine is causing extreme civilian harm, as millions of people have been forced to leave their homes and find shelter in neighbouring or further countries. Poland is one of the countries hosting the largest number of refugees from Ukraine. The IRC has worked in Poland since February 2022 to provide vital support to those affected by the conflict, so they can return home when it is safe, not because they have to.

2023 has been a turbulent year, and the IRC predicts humanitarian crises like Gaza and Sudan will worsen in 2024. But while the headlines worldwide may be dire, there are still many positive stories and uplifting moments from 2023 worth remembering.

Amidst the journeys undertaken by numerous asylum seekers across the Americas in pursuit of safety and security, they encounter a significant challenge: the lack of reliable information to alleviate their hardships. Hence, the IRC supports displaced people on their journey by facilitating access to digital platforms where they can encounter information and services they need.