The four countries discussed in this report—South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen—as well as camps for displaced populations around the world have weakened health systems unable to meet existing needs.

Over the last four years, the Trump administration’s increasingly restrictive immigration policies have drastically limited access to U.S. humanitarian protection pathways, blocked access to territory for asylum seekers, and deployed inhumane treatment as a mode of deterrence. Combined with the marked increase in forced displacement in Mexico and Central America and a reduction of U.S. aid to the region, these policies have severely exacerbated the preexisting humanitarian crisis.

East Africa is facing its worst drought in 40 years and there are now over 1.4 million people displaced by drought in Somalia alone. Learn more about drought, what causes it, and how we can support those most impacted.

Photographs of 31 men, women, girls and boys, united by stories of displacement and disjuncture, formed the basis of a moving exhibit hosted by the IRC at the Union Club, Soho. They represent the 45,000 refugees in Greece who are preparing for plummeting temperatures this winter as they wait for their asylum applications to be processed.

Zoe Daniels, the International Rescue Committee’s Roving Country Director, will take part in this year’s Virgin London Marathon to raise funds for our work supporting refugees and displaced people. With 100,000 runners expected to participate, Zoe’s inspirational efforts will be followed closely by her friends, family and IRC work colleagues.

IRC recommendations to transform the EU’s response to forced displacement.

Reports of gender-based violence (GBV) are common in camps for refugees and displaced populations. In the Dadaab refugee camps in north-eastern Kenya, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and CARE International (CARE) implement programmes that aim to both respond to and prevent GBV.

Many refugee and displaced women have gone through their pregnancies with no regular check-ups by midwives, no 12-week scans, no antenatal classes... They’ve faced war and persecution, survived in camps during the winter -- and now they have COVID-19 to worry about.

In all, more than 1 million Somalis have been displaced inside their country by drought and terrorism. Many are living in makeshift shelters in crowded conditions that are ripe for the spread of disease. And the violence that has gripped Somalia for decades has seriously weakened the country’s health care system, making it difficult for people to get medical attention.