As of June 2019, an estimated 76,000 refugees including over 3,800 unaccompanied children, live in Greece, more than 15,500 of these on the Greek islands, often in crowded, substandard conditions. Over 75% of the newly arrived are from Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and Palestine and more than half are women and children. IRC Hellas responds to the needs of the most vulnerable with a holistic approach that spans from reception to integration; on the islands and on the mainland.

A study, including key informant interviews and a literature review, was conducted in early 2021, looking into ongoing health operations in three challenging contexts – Jordan, Bangladesh and Chad – with the aim of identifying best practices and lessons learned at the policy, financial, and practical levels. In Jordan, dwindling donor funds and limited resources have hindered access to affordable health services for vulnerable refugee and host populations. Health systems strengthening activities coupled with effective community health approaches aimed at improving non-communicable disease (NCD) patient adherence to medication and continuous care, have demonstrated that effective and timely cooperation between government, humanitarian agencies, and donors can yield positive results which more easily transition into long-term solutions.