International Rescue Committee

As Ebola cases spread across eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and in Uganda, the IRC has launched a response to protect vulnerable communities and support an already overstretched health system. Here's what you need to know ➡️

Recent clashes in Chad’s Lake province are placing already vulnerable communities at even greater risk—triggering a new wave of displacement and leaving families with increasingly little means to survive.    After more than 15 years of crisis, the situation remains acute. Already facing a food deficit, the province has been severely affected by the conflict: internally displaced people have been deprived of their livelihoods, particularly access to fishing grounds and fertile land. Malnutrition levels continue to rise and access to basic services is severely limited.   With support from the EU in Emergencies, our teams are providing essential health services to displaced communities, but further funding is urgently needed to reach people with vital assistance. 

Bassem is one of the over 360,000 displaced children who are facing fear and uncertainty over their future. Civilians across Lebanon are facing a rapidly worsening crisis marked by large-scale displacement, rising food insecurity, escalating health needs, and continued airstrikes, despite a three week ceasefire extension being declared on April 23. “Nearly every family we met spoke of overwhelming anxiety, grief, and depression,” says Kelly Razzouk, the IRC’s Vice President for Global Policy and Advocacy. “Children are struggling to sleep. Parents are carrying the impossible burden of trying to provide security while coping with trauma themselves.” Together with local partners, our teams are delivering lifesaving services through initiatives like “the National Lifeline,” a free hotline for suicide prevention and emotional support, and mobile mental health teams that bring support directly to communities in need. But without urgent international support, critical support will not reach everyone who needs it. Decisive action must be taken to ensure these families are not left to carry the scars of the crisis alone.

What does motherhood look like in the middle of war? For Warda, a mother of three in Lebanon, it means doing her best to hold her family together while everything falls apart. Swipe to read her story this #MothersDay ➡️

This is what investing in humanity could look like. In two months of war in Iran, the U.S. has spent an estimated $25 billion.  With that same amount, the IRC could: ➡️ Treat every malnourished child on earth, more than six times over. ➡️ Deliver remote pre-school education to children across Sudan, Gaza and South Sudan, more than 11 times over. ➡️ Vaccinate all 14 million zero-dose children worldwide, 16 times over. Where would you rather invest?

Journalists have reported on a new U.S. government plan that could force Afghan refugees into an impossible choice: be sent to an unfamiliar country facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises or return to the place they were forced to flee. Read through to learn more ➡️

Human trafficking doesn’t end when exploitation ends. For many survivors, the period that follows is one of the most vulnerable. It comes with a real risk of re-trafficking, especially when access to safe, sustainable employment is limited. The IRC, in partnership with HPE and HPE Foundation, launched Sarah, an AI-powered digital assistant designed to help survivors rebuild their lives and navigate pathways into safe work. As a part of the IRC’s Anti-Trafficking Response platform, Sarah builds on earlier tools like Giannis – expanding a comprehensive digital ecosystem that supports both frontline response and long-term recovery. By combining humanitarian expertise with responsible AI, the platform helps expand access to critical support, close gaps in recovery and reduce the risk of re-exploitation – supporting survivors in rebuilding their lives with dignity. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eNx-42iX

Supplies are delayed.  Fuel costs are rising.  Food prices are increasing. The Iran war is driving a crisis far beyond the Middle East. Across East Africa, where millions are facing hunger and displacement, the impact is already being felt, from delayed nutrition supplies to power cuts in health facilities. Operational costs for the IRC to deliver life-saving aid has risen by up to 50%, putting even more pressure on humanitarian services reeling from devastating aid cuts. Our teams are on the ground, working hard to deliver life-saving support to those who need it most.

Families in Lebanon are doing everything they can to survive.   Over one million people have been displaced across the country, while essential services they rely on, including health care, protection, and education, are under growing strain. We are scaling up our emergency response in Lebanon to deliver aid to displaced people. Support from private sector partners enables our teams to respond quickly and effectively in emergency settings, delivering aid where it’s most needed.