This involves setting ambitious goals to break ongoing cycles of conflict and devastation. With the descent of the Iron Curtain in 1946, the IRC initiated a resettlement program for East European refugees, which continued until the end of the Cold War. The International Rescue Committee (IRC), a New York-based non-governmental organization mostly funded by the U.S. government, is an outspoken critic of the Trump administration's refugee and asylum policies and has been looking at ways to circumvent them. The IRC also maintains a kit with inventory necessary for the startup of an emergency program in a remote location, as well as a roster of IRC employees and qualified external personnel who are available on short notice for emergency deployment. A record 340 million people are in need of humanitarian aid this year, and 100 million have been forced to flee their homes. Get the latest news, photos and videos spotlighting the world's worst humanitarian crises and the International Rescue Committee's work helping people devastated by conflict and disaster. Request new password. Despite severe flooding, destroyed crops and disease outbreaks, funding shortages forced the World Food Program to suspend part of its food aid in 2022. International Rescue Committee (IRC) Read our profile on the United States government and media. The IRC more than quadrupled our staff in Afghanistan in 2022 to operate in 12 provinces, support 68 health facilities and manage 30 mobile health teams. [14] 'This is a slap in the face for British agriculture': Fightback against plant-based school dinners begins as furious farmers vow to resist council moves to go vegan by scrapping all meat and dairy . On the ground in over 90 countries - neutral, impartial, and independent - we are the International Committee of the Red Cross. One female USAID contractor in Afghanistan said that it was difficult to speak about her sexual assault as it was supposed to be secret. Password *. NGO Mdecins Sans Frontires was described as institutionally racist by insiders in July, while Amnesty International staff claimed there was a culture of white privilege at the organization in April. The current president and CEO of the IRC is David Miliband, formerly British Foreign Secretary. Articles are straightforward, low-biased, and properly sourced. Quebec workers' strike to focus on inflation | CTV News The fifth survey put the excess-death toll between August 1998 and April 2007 at 5.4 million. Heading into 2023, countries across the globe continue to struggle with decades-long conflicts, economic turmoil, and the devastating effects of climate change. Penny Mordaunt, the British Secretary of State for International Development,told charities funded by the UK government on Wednesday that funding will cease if organisations continue to fail in reporting serious allegations and do not safeguard everyone within their remit. The situation in Burkina Faso grows increasingly dire as armed groups intensify their attacks and seize land. Decades of conflict have eroded Somalias ability to respond to shocks of any kind, destroying systems and infrastructure that would have provided a guardrail against the current crisis. IRC - International Rescue Committee (@RESCUEorg) / Twitter However, it is understood the IRC is now set to take up a significant number of the Gard recommendations after extensive work behind the scenes. Haiti: Gang violence and climate change combine for chaos, 8. 1 on the 2022 Watchlist but dropped down for 2023not because conditions have improved but because the situation in East Africa is so severe. In the period immediately following the end of the Second World War, the IRC was one of several organizations aiding refugees from Eastern Europe. The Latest Fact Checks curated by Media Bias Fact Check 05/01/2023, The Latest Fact Checks curated by Media Bias Fact Check 04/30/2023 (Weekend Edition), MBFCs Weekly Media Literacy Quiz Covering the Week of APR 23rd APR 29th. 0845 3000 218. User account. According to historian Eric Thomas Chester, by the 1950s the IRC had evolved into a global operation functioning as an integral link in the CIA's covert network, became deeply involved in the volatile confrontations between the two superpowers, and participated in an array of sensitive clandestine operations. Maryland, United States. Heading into winter, millions of people are unable to afford basic needs, with drought and flooding decimating crops and livestock. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees and displaced people forced to flee from war or disaster. Jul 2022 - Present10 months. London. [32][self-published source][dead link], The IRC is at the origin of a controversial estimate of the excess mortality in the DRC due to conflicts following the genocide of Tutsis in Rwanda. International Committee of the Red Cross International Rescue Committee (IRC) LEAST BIASED These sources have minimal bias and use very few loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal to emotion or stereotypes). PO Box 1227. The Resettlement Support Center primarily assists refugees in Thailand but also assists asylum seekers in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and other countries in Southeast Asia. Kidnappings, rape and killings are all rising, putting thousands at risk of death. The IRC issued a report in 2008 detailing the plight of Iraqi refugees on the five-year anniversary of the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq. Read about our earthquake response here. Megan Nobert, a humanitarian worker and human rights lawyer, was drugged and raped in South Sudan by a UNICEF contractor which led her to set up Report the Abuse in 2015, a campaign aimed at ending sexual violence against aid workers. Over the past year alone a large number of Bipoc/BAME staff have left the organization, many of them at least in part due to the IRCs lackluster diversity, equality and inclusion [DEI] work. [54], As of 2019, the IRC reportedly held $224,275,287 in net assets, with funding coming from private and institutional donors. The IRC launched an emergency response to the war in February 2022, working with local partners in Ukraine, Poland and Moldova to reach the most vulnerable by providing essential items, cash assistance, improved access to health care, and safe spaces for women and children. New York, New York, United States41K followers 500+ connections. The theme of Monday's traditional May Day demonstration, International Workers' Day, will be inflation. All rights reserved. Is IRC Legit? : r/nonprofit - Reddit [5], The current President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is David Miliband (2013present), who previously served as the British foreign secretary.[6]. IRC programs implement and support social work services to help individual survivors of gender-based violence, economic empowerment activities to support survivors of violence and women and girls at-risk of violence,[39] community education and mobilization projects around gender-based violence, training and capacity-building for NGOs and governments, coordination of humanitarian services, and advocacy efforts to advance laws preventing violence against women, and the enforcement of policies ensuring survivors access to care and legal justice. Ethiopia is heading toward its sixth consecutive failed rainy season, which could prolong a drought already affecting 24 million people. David Miliband - President & CEO - International Rescue Committee The IRC's gender-based anti-violence programs aim to meet the safety, health, psychosocial and justice needs of women and girls who are survivors of or vulnerable to gender-based violence. Support MBFC Donations Iryna and her daughter stand near the Medyka border crossing point in Poland after fleeing Ukraine. Meanwhile climate shocks and the first cholera outbreak in three years strain critical health and sanitation systems. With their support, we synergized crafting a. Resettlement services include providing immediate aid, including food and shelter; assisting with job placement and employment skills; and giving access to clothing, medical attention, education, English-language classes and community orientation. [34] For cross-checking purposes, they made a study of the excess mortality in the DRC over the period 1998-2004 which came to 183,000 deaths, twenty times less. The price of food has increased 30 percent, among the highest food inflation rates in the world. The International Rescue Committee ("IRC") Agrees to Pay $6.9 Million To Settle Allegations That It Performed Procurement Fraud by Engaging in Collusive Behavior and Misconduct on Programs Funded by the United States Agency for International Development ", "International Rescue Committee | international organization", "Inside The IRC: How A Visionary Aid Organization Is Using Technology To Help Refugees", "Resettlement Support Center - Overseas Processing Entity | International Rescue Committee (IRC)", On the Ground: South Asia Quake Six Days Later, "InternatIonal rescue commIttee Annual Report 2016", "International Rescue Committee (IRC) Outcomes and Evidence Framework", "International Rescue Committee (IRC) Grand Bargain Commitments", "From TripAdvisor, a Program to Help Refugees Get to Know the U.S.", "Resettlement Agencies Cut Staff as Refugee Arrivals Drop", "UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS - DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 19932003 Report of the Mapping Exercise documenting the most serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed within the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo between March 1993 and June 2003 August 2010, page 48, footnote 86", "Overmortality in Congo (DRC) during the 1998-2004 Conflicts: an Estimate of Excess Deaths scientifically based on Demographic Methods", "Aid World Launches Standards for Crisis Education", "Press Release: David Miliband, former UK Foreign Secretary, appointed president of International Rescue Committee | International Rescue Committee (IRC)", "Genuinely Needy: Our Annual Survey of 200 Large Charities Picks Ten That Shine", "The International Rescue Committee ("IRC") Agrees to Pay $6.9 Million to Settle Allegations That It Performed Procurement Fraud by Engaging in Collusive Behavior and Misconduct on Programs Funded by the United States Agency for International Development", "International Rescue Committee 2016 Annual Report", Report: World ignoring Iraqi refugee crisis, Iraqi Refugees in the United States: In Dire Straits", International Rescue Committee (IRC) official site, Interview with IRC president and CEO George Rupp, Big Think, retrieved 18 March 2010, International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission, Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation, Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks, United Nations response to the COVID-19 pandemic, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=International_Rescue_Committee&oldid=1149849201, Refugee aid organizations in the United States, International organizations based in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with dead external links from August 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Emergency Rescue Committee & International Relief Association, To assist people whose lives have been affected by conflict and disaster, International Relief and Rescue Committee. Relief programs to assist Mozambican refugees in Malawi also began in 1987. In 2010, the IRC's Commission on Iraqi Refugees issued a third report on displaced Iraqis entitled, "A Tough Road Home: Uprooted Iraqis in Jordan, Syria and Iraq." Eight years later, the IRC started community rehabilitation activities in Afghanistan for tens of thousands of returning refugees. In addition to integrating refugees into the U.S., the IRC also provides immigration services to refugees and people who have been granted asylum, as well as specialized services to victims of human trafficking in the U.S. In addition to aiding displaced Iraqis within the country, the IRC is also providing assistance to Iraqi refugees in Jordan and Syria, as well as to those granted refuge in the United States.[36]. Building an Evidence-based Result Framework: The case of the The IRC is currently working in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, where it resettles refugees and helps them become self-sufficient. Citizens are often targeted. While another aid worker, Sarah Pierce, believes her contract was terminated by the Carter Center, a large American NGO, because she reported being raped in her tent by a colleague while also working in South Sudan. A displaced woman in northern Burkina Faso, where some towns are almost entirely cut off from aid. Members of the armed forces seized power twice in 2022 alone. A decade of conflict in neighboring Lebanon has further increased food prices and poverty. All plans give access to our growing exclusive content! Program areas include social programs emphasizing rebuilding the health, public infrastructure and education sectors; gender-based violence programs; economic recovery and development programs; and governance programs that support civil society, enhance protection and the rule of law, and rebuild ties between governments and their constituencies. We currently serve Haitians on the move in countries where the IRC has a programmatic response, including Mexico. [40] The IRC promotes the protection and development of children and youth from the early stages of an emergency through post-conflict and recovery. It's a myth that Western Europe or the U.S. are bearing an unsustainable burden of refugees; the vast bulk of refugees are in low- or middle-income countries. Working at International Rescue Committee | Glassdoor In addition to the provision of humanitarian assistance, IRC post-conflict development projects aim to restore and strengthen physical and social institutions, as well as rebuild and restore social cohesion. Partnering with the Polish trade union movement Solidarity in 1987, the IRC began a health care program in Poland. By Ellen Wulfhorst, Thomson Reuters Foundation. The crisis in Yemen is deepening as an eight-year conflict between armed groups and government forces remains unresolved. At work in more than 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, the IRC . Rush Your Donation Today | International Rescue Committee The reporting is factual and usually sourced. The IRC is currently working in about 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities where it resettles refugees and helps them become self-sufficient. Right Bias: How we rate the bias of media sources, Ad-Free Login Humanitarian organizations have limited ability to reach people in areas controlled by non-state armed groups. Interviews at International Rescue Committee - Indeed The next year, the organization followed up with a report on the plight of Iraqi refugees in the United States. They are among the estimated 4.3 million people displaced by fighting in Yemen. As our strategic plan S100 made clear, inequalities of power reflect profound historic injustices, and IRC is determined to do better, in some aspects much better, to reflect the diversity of the places we work and the people we serve. The IRC said it has engaged a law firm to conduct an independent review into concerns regarding its approach to diversity, equality and inclusion. Political unrest is rising as the country prepares for elections. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. A spokeswoman for the IRC in London told the Thomson Reuters Foundation: We are working openly and collaboratively with USAID to investigate this issue.. [11] The organization was financed largely by the National War Fund. Get the latest news about the IRC's innovative programs, compelling stories about our clients and how you can make a difference. Also in 1997, the IRC opened a UK office. Haiti makes it into the Watchlist top 10 as political instability and gang violence surge following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. But the aid agency said it could not disclose whether the organization was under investigation as reported in some media. Also in the 1950s, the IRC began relief and resettlement programs for refugees displaced by the North Vietnamese defeat of the French and by the Soviet forces crushing of the Hungarian revolution. Leo Cherne, an IRC board member since 1946, was elected IRC Chairman in 1951. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact-check record. N1 6AH. South Sudan consistently has the worlds highest level of violence against aid workers, hindering their ability to reach people in need. Salary of highest-paid employee compared to similar-sized charities. While needs are dire, humanitarian aid is limited by conflict and lack of funding. The government alleged the IRC failed to maintain adequate oversight over procurement in Turkey for humanitarian assistance to refugees in Syria. Over 100 armed groups fight for control in eastern Congo, fueling a crisis that has lasted for decades. The Department of Justice ("DOJ") announced that the International Rescue Committee ("IRC") has agreed to pay $6.9 million to settle allegations under the False Claims Act ("FCA") related to funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development ("USAID") intended for people affected by the conflict in Syria. From the 1930s, with the first wave of refugees from Nazi Germany, to its operations today in aiding refugees from persecution and famine in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, the International Rescue Committee has been a prime example of effective private relief and rescue work. The, Here, we break down what you need to know about the 10 countries likely to face the worst humanitarian crises next year. Armed groups now control as much as 40 percent of the country. The International Rescue Committee is a non-government nonprofit with David Miliband currently serving as President. While conflict has decreased, localized fighting remains widespread. E-mail or username *. [17] In 2015, according to IRC it trained 15,000 farmers, gave 440,000 babies measles vaccinations, job training to 27,000 people and resettled 10,000 refugees in the United States. Due to the failed truce, major conflict could resume in 2023. IRC - International Rescue Committee Retweeted. [33] This estimate was challenged by a group of Belgian demographers sent to the DRC by a European institution to help draw up electoral lists for the DRC. What are your colleagues talking about? While needs are dire, humanitarian aid is limited by conflict and lack of funding. In 1992, the IRC began work in the former Yugoslavia, first dealing with the consequences of ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and Herzegovina and later launching community rehabilitation programs in Bosnia. A growth in the number of vigilante groups has added to the violence. The IRC distributes cash and basic emergency supplies, builds safe water supply systems and sanitation facilities, and supports government partners and community workers in maintaining health clinics. At the turn of the decade, the IRC launched emergency relief programs for Afghan refugees fleeing to Pakistan. International Rescue Committee P.O. Staff were angered at being censured last year for circulating a petition ratified by some 150 members of the IRCs Global Anti-Racism and Decoloniality (Gard) network for signatures internally. to support the IRC's life-changing work in Watchlist countries and across the world. [17] In 2016, the IRC aided around 15,000 women and girls through protection and empowerment programs in Jordan. Many still in the country are facing winter without access to food, water, health care, and other essential supplies. Afghanistan: An entire population is pushed into poverty, Over a year since the shift in power, Afghans remain in economic collapse. Basic goods like food and fuel will remain unaffordable for many Yemenis. See all Least Biased Sources. Factual Reporting: HIGH Calgary Food Bank. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has become the latest humanitarian organisation pitched in the spotlight following the revelations that Britains Oxfam failed to report a former country manager for illegally using prostitutes in Haiti. In 1940, European exiles and American liberals close to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, founded the Emergency Rescue Committee (ERC) to aid European refugees trapped in Vichy France. The first cholera outbreak in a decade threatens to overwhelm Syrias health care and water systems. [56], Interview with Eric Chester on the IRC and the CIA-Contrarian Humanitarian Podcast Episode #4 https://contrarianhumanitarian.org. Later, refugees from Mussolini's Italy and Franco's Spain were assisted. Learn about us. The IRC launched an emergency response to the war in February 2022, working with local partners in Ukraine, 9. Climate disasters including severe floods and droughts make it increasingly difficult for people to access food and basic resources. The International Relief Association (IRA) was founded in 1931 in Germany by two left-wing factions, the Communist Party Opposition (KPO) and the Socialist Workers Party (SAP). The report asserted that Iraqis are trapped in poverty and uncertainty and their needs are growing more acute, even as international attention and assistance wanes. L69 3UG. The IRC worked closely with local aid organizations to respond to various disasters, including in Pakistan after the 2005 earthquake;[20] and in Indonesia after the South Asian tsunami; and in Myanmar after the 2008 cyclone. ERC founding member Varian Fry arrived in Marseilles within a few weeks of the fall of France, where he pulled together a small team that was instrumental in helping many individuals escape Vichy and the Nazis to safety in the U.S. and elsewhere. In the next year, we expect to reach 800,000 people directly and impact 4 million with our services. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee . Emergency Rescue Committee (ERC) formed to support European refugees trapped in Vichy France. On Sept. 28, the Canadian Food . Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Yemen: Failed truce could lead to renewed conflict, 4. In a statement to the Guardian, three former staff and six current members accused IRC leaders of belittling, gaslighting and retaliating against employees seeking to make significant antiracist changes internally following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor last year. It delivers aid in more than 40 countries, primarily in Africa, and helps resettle refugees across the US, with operations mainly directed out of New York. Filtered Search MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY. Ongoing efforts to engage the government and improve the economy have fallen short. 0:00 1:01. NEW YORK A "demonization" of refugees is threatening the International Rescue Committee 's basic mission and existence, suddenly placing them "on the defensive," said IRC president and. The Women's Commission became the Women's Refugee Commission in 2009.[11]. cities. In 1949, the IRC took a significant step toward a greater integration into the covert network. Fry also worked closely with British intelligence, helping to establish escape routes for British servicemen. The same year, they publicly committed to using this tool to ensure that all of their programs are evidence-based or evidence-generating by 2020 as part of the "Grand Bargain" commitments. Russian missile strikes could leave millions without water, electricity and heating in winter. Somalia: A catastrophic hunger crisis tops the Watchlist. 9. Subscribe. Among those purged was Jay Lovestone, the erstwhile head of the American Communist Party. Explore our goals Where we focus The IRC will put in place high-impact, cost-effective solutions that help people affected by crisis. The global aid agency, headed by former British foreign secretary David Miliband, is not suspended from U.S. funding, said a spokesman for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). NEW YORK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The activities of several vendors obtaining humanitarian aid for Syria for the International Rescue Committee have been halted amid an investigation by the U.S. government into reports of corruption, officials said on Wednesday. Make A Tribute Gift ; Donor Advised Funds; Employee Matching; Donor FAQs; Contact Donor Services; Our efficiency maximizes your gift's impact. Recent IRC Emergency Response Team deployments include Darfur,[38] Indonesia after the South Asian tsunami, Myanmar after the 2008 cyclone, and Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. Bodor Ali Muhammad, 21, sits with her three daughters in Modhoor camp in Yemen. The IRC has spearheaded a campaign urging the United States to pass the International Violence Against Women Act, which is now before Congress. 90% said yes. Photo: Giles Clarke/UNOCHA via Getty Images. The IRC maintains an Emergency Response Team of 17 specialists who assess survival needs and mount responses to sudden or protracted emergencies. The reporting is factual and usually sourced. These values are core to the IRC mission of helping people survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. See all Least Biased Sources. Enter the password that accompanies your e-mail. Humanitarian actors and other service providers will continue to face disruptions to their work in 2023, preventing aid from reaching those most affected. Their inspirational generosity allowed the International Rescue Committee and its partners to build on the foundations of vital projects. So thank you for giving me the time to say that, and Im very sorry for our Ethiopia colleagues that their amazing work should have had to be diverted for 30 seconds for me to do so.. 100%. While a rapid increase in aid prevented famine last winter, the root cause of the crisis persists. The IRC is now at work in about 40 countries and in 26 U.S. Today she lives in a camp for displaced people in the western part of the country. For more information and to see the full list of 20, read the, 10. Leaders have been accused of inciting and supporting conflict to win over constituents. This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies. Former grant manager Serwah Asante, who is now working for a similar organization, said: I was publicly berated on a recorded video call by a senior official for asking about decision-making and power imbalance during DEI discussions. There would be programs to assist refugees that would be transparent and, at the same time, there would be parallel operations known to only a few. While ongoing conflict and restrictions have posed a challenge, the IRC and our volunteers continue to reach vulnerable people and provide health care, womens protection and empowerment, and education programming. [31], The IRC is one of the largest providers of humanitarian assistance in the DRC, where conflict and humanitarian crisis have taken the lives of 5.4 million people since 1998, according to peer-reviewed studies by the IRC. Percentage of revenue spent on administration and fundraising. The IRC distributed a confidential memorandum that it was prepared to take part in sensitive covert operations at the behest of the U.S. government. We work around the world helping people affected by conflict and armed violence, and promoting the rules of war. Prices of goods will continue to increase into 2023. After the first Gulf War, the IRC came to the aid of hundreds of thousands of Kurdish refugees who fled Saddam Hussein's regime. I was also labeled as adversarial and contentious for helping to coordinate a 52-point, staff-led call to action to work with leadership to make IRC an organization dedicated to anti-racism and decoloniality. International Rescue Committee - YouTube Its purpose was to assist Germans suffering under Adolf Hitler's government particularly supporters of the 'right opposition'. [42] The organization has also advocated for the United States to complete ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child;[43] 196 nations (including the United States) have signed the convention; the United States is the only UN nation which is not party to it. Who We Are | International Rescue Committee (IRC) It had an annual operating budget of around $700 million.