International Rescue Committee

The DRC’s Ebola outbreak has just passed a grim milestone: over 10,000 cases recorded in just five months. With a deep fear and mistrust of the health system, rebuilding community trust is as urgent as medical care. Read more on our response: www.rescue.org/press-releas...

rescue.orgKenya: IRC scales up Ebola response as cases climb and the threat persists | International Rescue CommitteeKenya: IRC scales up Ebola response as cases climb and the threat persists

In Kenya, our teams are supporting early government action to contain the spread of Ebola through scaling up risk awareness activities, screening, contact tracing, and health worker training in high-risk areas. Read more about the initial response: www.rescue.org/press-releas...

Afghanistan is facing one of the worst hunger crises on earth. 17 million people can’t reliably feed themselves. Almost 16 million face acute food insecurity and as per the latest IPC alert, 3.2 million are one step away from famine.

rescue.orgWar and El Niño-driven drought deplete food stocks, pushing Sudan further towards famine, new data finds | The IRCEl Niño-induced drought is compounding conflict and driving a growing risk of famine as conditions rapidly deteriorate in parts of Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan, Sudan, warns the latest IPC aler...

Famine is closing in on Sudan. War and El Niño-induced drought have left harvests near record-poor, and child malnutrition in two South Darfur camps is already above the famine threshold. Funding and safe access can’t wait. #ProtectTheHarvest www.rescue.org/press-releas...

For years, Fatima prayed for a child. But one after another, seven pregnancies each ended in heartbreak. In her community in Maiduguiri, Borno State, specialized maternal care was hard to come by, so Fatima did not know why she kept losing her pregnancies.

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At 39 weeks, Fatima gave birth to a healthy baby girl. For the first time, she held her own child in her arms. "I feel so happy because I finally have a daughter of my own to hold and care for," she says. "I am so proud of her."

With support from the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund @unocha.org, the IRC continues to provide lifesaving maternal and reproductive health services to women like Fatima who are facing high-risk pregnancies. Today, six-month old baby Hafsat is a symbol of hope after years of pain and uncertainty.

International Rescue Committee - EU

But everything changed when she became pregnant for the eighth time. Health workers at an IRC-supported facility reviewed her history and flagged the pregnancy as high-risk. She was quickly referred for specialized care and was closely monitored for the rest of her pregnancy.

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In Yemen, @euinemergencies.ec.europa.eu funded mobile clinics enable the IRC to continue reaching displaced families despite funding cuts. Meet Dr. Ahmed & colleagues serving their own communities amid conflict escalation and resource shortages. Read their story: www.rescue.org/eu/article/w...

rescue.orgWhat it means to be a healthcare worker in Yemen amidst conflict escalation and aid cuts | The IRC in the EUHealthcare workers in Yemen continue to provide medical services to displaced populations while conflict escalations, aid funding cuts, and widespread food insecurity make it increasingly difficult to...

Majida is 20 and pregnant with her second child. She lives in Rakhine State, Myanmar, in a house shared by 15 people. Her husband drives a rickshaw and sometimes fishes at sea. The family rarely earns enough daily to make ends meet ⬇️

"I have always been worried," she said. "Will I be able to deliver safely? If I cannot eat nutritious food, will it affect the baby?" She went for her first check-up at a clinic run by the IRC, with her sister-in-law Husana — also 20, also expecting ⬇️

Both were examined, given supplements, and told their babies are doing well. The care is free, which is why they can go at all. Supported by the Myanmar Humanitarian Fund, the clinic offers primary, maternal and child, sexual and reproductive, and mental health care.

Meet Shila, the 27-year-old IRC midwife who refuses to stop showing up for her patients. For thousands of women in a remote part of Afghanistan, she is the only lifeline for safe childbirth and prenatal care. Her story: www.telegraph.co.uk/global-healt...

rescue.orgMeet Darweza: A Transgender Tailor in Balochistan Building an Independent Future with IRC Support | The IRC in the EUDarweza grew up in Balochistan, a southwestern region of Pakistan near the Afghan border, where he spent much of his life caring for his family while confronting hardship, stigma, and uncertainty abou...

8 Sept

"I know I’ll get where I'm going." Darweza, a transgender tailor in Pakistan, turned his hardship into dedication. With @euinemergencies.ec.europa.eu funded support from the IRC and partners, he launched his business and built his life on his own terms. Read more: www.rescue.org/eu/article/m...

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20 Aug

19 million people in Yemen are struggling to access food and healthcare. Just before the recent strikes on the west coast, our colleague, Basma Alloush, visited our Al Mokha health centre. Thanks to@euinemergencies.ec.europa.eu support, this centre will continue operating for at least another year.

rescue.orgAid worker deaths near record high in 2025, driven by Gaza and Sudan | The IRCAs the world marks World Humanitarian Day, the IRC calls on governments and warring parties to protect humanitarian workers and end impunity for attacks against them

19 Aug

Helping others shouldn’t cost your life. As humanitarian workers are being killed at record rates, governments and parties to conflict must act to protect aid workers and ensure they can safely deliver lifesaving support. Our full #WorldHumanitarianDay statement: www.rescue.org/press-releas...

rescue.org7.4 magnitude earthquake strikes Colombia’s poorest region | The IRCColombia now faces damaged hospitals and no clear path to aid after earthquake struck poorest region

10 Aug

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake today has left at least 110 people dead and nearly 100 injured in Colombia. IRC staff near the epicenter are all confirmed safe, but are seeing damages to infrastructure and life-threatening gaps in access to healthcare, shelter, and more. www.rescue.org/press-releas...

rescue.orgAs the Ebola outbreak spreads in DRC, IRC trains community leaders to strengthen early detection and combat misinformation | The IRCAs the Ebola outbreak continues to spread, misinformation remains a significant challenge, hindering prevention efforts and reducing trust in health interventions. To help address this, the Internatio...

10 Aug

As Ebola in the DRC continues to spread, the IRC is training local leaders and community volunteers to: ➡️ counter misinformation through trusted local networks; ➡️ support early detection of cases; ➡️ gather community concerns and feedback. Learn more: www.rescue.org/press-releas...

nbcwashington.comMigrant children face new risks as legal aid expiresThousands of immigrant children in the U.S. without a parent or guardian are at risk of navigating the complex immigration system alone after the federal government ended its contract with a network o...

6 Aug

“Legal representation for children is more than just showing up in court.” Our Children’s Legal Services Director Jennifer Anzardo Valdes spoke with News4 about the loss of funding for critical legal service programs for children seeking safety in the US: www.nbcwashington.com/video/news/m...

rescue.orgMobile clinics save lives among Niger's intensifying humanitarian crisis | The IRC in the EUNiger is still suffering from the aftermath of the 2023 coup, which exacerbated its humanitarian crisis and fueled further instability. Since September 2023, more than 130,000 people have been interna...

6 Aug

In western Niger, where insecurity has uprooted thousands, Seydou receives treatment for malnutrition from a mobile clinic. Read how the IRC, supported by @euinemergencies.ec.europa.eu, continues to deliver care to displaced communities in Niger’s Tillabéri region: www.rescue.org/eu/article/m...

youtube.comSepideh Moafi talks 'The Pitt'YouTube video by Good Morning America

3 Aug

"We need our healthcare workers. We need each other. They reflect the best of us." Watch IRC ambassador Sepideh Moafi on Good Morning America, on the real-life humanitarian doctors who inspired her Emmy-nominated character on The Pitt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oduSwrB6Jmk

theguardian.comLess drugs, less care, less food: how aid cuts have hit Uganda’s 2m refugeesAfrica’s largest refugee population has seen rations and healthcare slashed as funding levels drop

29 July

IRC’s Uganda health budget went from $18m to $4m in a single month. 11 clinics were closed. Two million refugees are now more exposed to cholera, measles, and mpox. This is what aid cuts look like: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/jul/09/how-aid-cuts-have-hit-uganda-2m-refugees

abcnews.com'Pretty dire': Aid workers reveal health needs in Venezuela amid recovery from earthquakesAs Venezuela continues to recover from powerful twin earthquakes in late June, humanitarian organizations are warning of a "dire" situation on the ground.

28 July

"People don't have access to clean water and to properly clean wounds every day, so they get infections." - IRC’s Everardo Esquivel on what's driving illnesses in Venezuela a month after the quakes. https://abcnews.com/Health/pretty-dire-aid-workers-reveal-health-venezuela-amid/story?id=134578171

telegraph.co.ukDavid Miliband's charity: Don't give up on refugees to chase votesReport urges Government to ‘muster the political courage' to improve integration of migrants

28 July

“Some governments are betting that weakening commitments to refugees will yield political dividends at home. This is a mistake.” - IRC’s David Miliband on why abandoning displaced people fails everyone: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/16/david-milibands-charity-refugees/

cbc.caCBC's Linda Ward speaks to Rafael Velasquez Garcia about the Venezuela earthquakesGet the latest on CBCNews.ca, the CBC News App, and CBC News Network for breaking news and analysis.

27 July

Behind every earthquake headline is a family still rebuilding. Listen as IRC’s Rafael Velasquez Garcia talks with CBC's Linda Ward about what survival looks like in Venezuela right now: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7274949

rescue.orgEbola deaths in eastern DRC's Grand Nord Kivu region far higher than elsewhere | The IRCAs the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is showing no sign of slowing, people who contract the virus in the northern part of North Kivu province, known as Grand Nord Kivu, are al...

24 July

URGENT: In the DRC's North Kivu province, people are almost twice as likely to die from the Ebola virus as those elsewhere in the outbreak. Ongoing conflict, weak surveillance and community resistance mean many cases never reach health facilities. More: www.rescue.org/press-releas...

events.rescue.orgInternational Rescue Committee ⋮ EventsDiscover events from International Rescue Committee

20 July

Refugee resettlement in the U.S. is being rewritten in real time. States are stepping up, with less support and more urgency than ever. Join IRC's States Lay the Foundation summit on Aug 28 to help shape what comes next. Register: events.rescue.org/en/0XtU956/2...

Nora, 23, lives in Rakhine State, Myanmar with her husband and two children. Fishing restrictions pushed her husband into driving a rickshaw instead; work that earns just enough for rice and oil, with nothing left over for emergencies. Their roof still needs repair and rainy season is closing in ⬇️

When Nora's youngest daughter fell sick overnight with vomiting and diarrhea, Nora brought her to a clinic run by the IRC, where she received free treatment, including oral rehydration solution. "We don't need to buy medicines," Nora said. "It saves money, which we can use for food." ⬇️

For families like Nora's, this clinic is their only access to healthcare. Supported by the Myanmar Humanitarian Fund, it offers primary care, maternal and child health services, and mental health consultations, often to patients who'd otherwise go without.

The Ebola outbreak in the DRC is continuing to worsen. Transmission is accelerating in already affected locations, while the virus is spreading into new areas, significantly increasing the risk of cross-border spread into South Sudan. Learn more: www.rescue.org/press-releas...

rescue.orgEl Niño threatens deadly floods and disease across East Africa and Asia | The IRCCommunities still recovering from flooding, drought and funding cuts now face a new wave of extreme weather unless early action reaches them before disaster strikes

"We're watching several emergencies converge at once, and the places least equipped to absorb another shock are the ones in the crosshairs," says Bob Kitchen, IRC Vice President for Emergencies. More on the predicted El Niño and the need for urgent early action: www.rescue.org/press-releas...

rescue.orgIRC Response to Latest Russian Strikes on Kyiv | The IRC"The last 24 hours in Kyiv have been some of the worst that the city has endured since this conflict began,” Alain Homsy, IRC Ukraine Director, said. “Civilian casualties are rising by the hour, among...

2 July

"The last 24 hours in Kyiv have been some of the worst that the city has endured since this conflict began,” —Alain Homsy, IRC Ukraine Director. Civilian casualties are rising by the hour, among them ambulance crews and paramedics hurt while racing to help others: www.rescue.org/press-releas...

rescue.orgEarthquakes leave Venezuela in ruins as approximately 50,000 remain missing and survivors go without water | The IRCIRC teams and partners in Venezuela report tens of thousands of people still missing, and survivors struggle to find safe drinking water.

30 June

Earthquakes leave Venezuela in ruins as approximately 50,000 remain missing and survivors go without water. www.rescue.org/press-releas...

rescue.orgSudan: An imminent RSF offensive is pushing North Kordofan toward humanitarian catastrophe, warns IRC | The IRCSudan: An imminent RSF offensive is pushing North Kordofan toward humanitarian catastrophe, warns IRC

29 June

URGENT: Escalating RSF drone strikes on El Obeid, Sudan, are putting hundreds of thousands of people at grave risk. "This could become a repeat of the horrors we saw in El Fasher, where civilians became targets" says Richard Data, IRC Sudan Country Director. More: www.rescue.org/press-releas...

rescue.orgIRC and partners launch PlayMatters 3.0 to expand Learning through Play across East Africa | The IRCThe International Rescue Committee (IRC), together with consortium partners Plan International and War Child Alliance, and with support from the LEGO Foundation, is launching PlayMatters 3.0, the next...

29 June

“Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, develop, and thrive, even in the most challenging circumstances." Launching today, PlayMatters 3.0 builds on our flagship education initiative supporting teachers to improve holistic learning and wellbeing for children: www.rescue.org/irc-partners...

rescue.orgSupreme Court clears way for deportations of Haitians and Syrians, limits on access to asylum for those seeking safety | The IRCDecisions issued by the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday will severely limit protections for people seeking safety in the United States. The first ruling cleared the way for the deportation of hundreds of...

26 June

Decisions issued by the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday will severely limit protections for people seeking safety in the United States. More: www.rescue.org/press-releas...

25 June

“Following two powerful and devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela last night, our immediate priority is confirming the safety of all IRC staff and partners in the affected areas," says Bob Kitchen, IRC's Vice President for Emergencies. [1/2]

25 June

"As the full extent of the destruction becomes clear, we are prepared to scale up emergency response operations to deliver lifesaving assistance to those who need it most.” The IRC assists Venezuelans affected by the economic crisis, including refugees in Colombia. [2/2]

rescue.orgHow an EU-funded IRC clinic treats children in Afghanistan | The IRC in the EUIn Afghanistan's drought-stricken province of Herat, families like Afsana's live far from any hospital, with little money, no option of farming their own food, and no reliable way to reach care. Throu...

24 June

Afsana had already lost one son to malnutrition. When her baby Sahil showed signs, she had no money and no way to reach a doctor, until an IRC clinic funded by @euinemergencies.ec.europa.eu came to her village. Read her story: www.rescue.org/eu/article/h...

12 June

Communities in Tyre, Lebanon are at breaking point as they face ongoing Israeli airstrikes and evacuation orders for the entire city; home to over 165,000 people. Many have already been displaced multiple times and exhausted every resource they have to survive. ⬇️

12 June

The IRC is scaling up its operations in Tyre and across southern Lebanon to reach people with critical support. This includes cash assistance, psychosocial support, and essential hygiene items that many families can no longer afford or find. More: www.rescue.org/press-releas...

rescue.orgNew UN report confirms historic levels of forced displacement as 118 million forced to flee — IRC says | The IRCNew UN figures show 118 million people forcibly displaced worldwide. The IRC warns record returns mask a collapse in asylum, resettlement and aid.

11 June

There are nearly 118 million people forcibly displaced in the world today, according to new figures released by UNHCR, a slight decline from last year. Fewer people displaced should be good news but the numbers tell a more complicated story. Our response: www.rescue.org/press-releas...

11 June

BREAKING: Borno state, northeast Nigeria has seen a rapidly evolving cholera outbreak, with over 8,400 suspected cases since early May 2026 and 42 deaths to date ⬇️

11 June

The IRC is on the ground, screening nearly 50,000 households, supplying clean drinking water, and supporting treatment centers, with support from @sidasweden.bsky.social and the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund.

rescue.orgEbola response faces critical supply shortages as border closures hamper essential aid | The IRCRestrictions on the movement of humanitarian supplies into eastern DRC are putting health workers and patients at risk as stocks of essential protective equipment are expected to run out within days. ...

9 June

Health workers in eastern DRC risk running out of basic protective equipment within days, as temporary border closures cut off supplies needed to contain the outbreak. The IRC is calling for access and an urgent surge in funding to contain the outbreak: www.rescue.org/press-releas...

abcnews.comEbola outbreak spreading in Africa is 'likely far worse' than official figures suggest: IRCThe Ebola outbreak spreading in the DRC is "likely far worse" than official figures suggest, the International Rescue Committee warned on Monday.

3 June

In the DRC, Ebola may have been spreading undetected since before March and potentially as long as three months before the epidemic was confirmed. Urgent global support is needed to prevent the outbreak escalating further. More: abcnews.com/Health/ebola...

edition.cnn.comAid Group: Ebola outbreak likely far larger than first thought | CNNCNN’s Wolf Blitzer & Pamela Brown speak with Dr. Mesfin Teklu Tessema of the International Rescue Committee, who said that delayed detection & slow contact tracing could mean that the Ebola outbreak i...

3 June

"Identification and contact tracing is not keeping up to the level of spread of the virus, so we don't have a full view of the extent of the spread." The IRC's Dr. Mesfin Tessema spoke with @cnn.com on the latest on the Ebola crisis: edition.cnn.com/2026/06/02/h...

2 June

At 42, Belkis arrived in Colombia pregnant and alone. In Cúcuta, the IRC came to her support with maternal care, legal assistance and confidential counseling. Read her story and learn more about the IRC’s work in Colombia, funded by @euinemergencies.ec.europa.eu: www.rescue.org/eu/article/i...