Our work
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people affected by humanitarian crises—including the climate crisis—to survive, recover and rebuild their lives. Founded at the call of Albert Einstein in 1933, the IRC is now at work in over 40 crisis-affected countries as well as communities throughout Europe and the Americas. We deliver lasting impact by providing health care, helping children learn, and empowering individuals and communities to become self-reliant, always seeking to address the inequalities facing women and girls.
Here are highlights of our impact over a year.
In 2021 the IRC and our partners reached over 31.5 million people in countries affected by crisis. As part of this work, we:
- Supported 3,607 health facilities
- Provided 6,085,969 outpatient consultations
- Treated 155,528 children under 5 for severe acute malnutrition
- Admitted 429,256 people for nutrition services
- Built or rehabilitated water supplies serving 2,700,629 people
- Reached 1,243,527 people with cash assistance
- Reached 1,240,379 people through gender-based violence awareness raising activities.
- Provided specialised support to 33,426 women survivors of violence
- Supported 98,128 children in IRC safe spaces and other protection programmes
- Enrolled 370,771 children and youth in learning programmes
... among other assistance provided around the world last year.
In the United States in 2021, we:
- Served nearly 35,000 people across 28 cities with asylum and protection programmes.
- Assisted 2,697 people to become new U.S. citizens.
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