Rawan*,19, lost her first love to war. Shortly after that tragedy, and following years of danger and persecution, she and her family finally left their home in Dara’a, Syria, for Ramtha, Jordan, hoping to start anew. The International Rescue Committee has helped them find the strength to do that, and supported Rawan as she heals and recovers from her loss.

Four reasons why the International Rescue Committee’s Emergency Watchlist ranks South Sudan among the top 10 countries most at risk of experiencing a worsening humanitarian crisis in 2023.

Children have borne a disproportionate burden of the hardships resulting from the Syrian conflict, now entering its fifth year without any sign of resolution. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has led the way in providing vital education services to 5,000 of these children in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and Akkar District.

In Afghanistan, state failure and economic collapse are now the primary drivers of a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding at breakneck speed. Unemployment and poverty are now the greatest drivers of internal displacement. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been providing assistance in Afghanistan for three decades, working today in 11 provinces. We see firsthand that while humanitarian aid saves lives, it cannot replace a functioning economy and state.

The International Rescue Committee understands how vital education can be for creating stability and reducing trauma for children affected by conflict. Through the Children of Peace initiative the IRC and the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) are training teachers, rebuilding classrooms, providing a quality education, as well as leisure activities, and helping children have a normal childhood. The IRC is also working closely with parents and the community to invest in the futures of their children through education.

Today marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the start of 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence. International Rescue Committee grants intern Jane Yang writes about how the IRC protects and empowers women who have made the dangerous trip from Somalia to a refugee camp in northeastern Kenya.