The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a global humanitarian aid, relief, and development NGO founded in 1933 as the International Relief Association, at the request of Albert Einstein. Its purpose was to aid victims of state oppression and persecution – to assist Germans suffering under Adolf Hitler’s government, and later, refugees from Mussolini’s Italy and Franco’s Spain.
Today, IRC responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic well being, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. The IRC is at work in over 40 countries, with 26 offices across the U.S. helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future, and strengthen their communities.
The IRC has assessed the countries at greatest risk of a humanitarian crisis in 2020 and below are the top 10 crises around the world. These countries represent less than 6 percent of the world’s population, yet host more than half of all people identified as being in need globally, and have produced nearly three-quarters of the world’s refugees.
- Yemen
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Syria
- Nigeria
- Venezuela
- Afghanistan
- South Sudan
- Burkina Faso
- Somalia
- Central African Republic
Since the coronavirus pandemic, the situation has become exponentially dire. For example, a couple of numbers for your consideration.
- 11 – # of ventilators available for Burkina Faso’s population of 20.9 million.
- ½ – # of Venezuela’s doctors who have left the country because of the humanitarian crisis.
If the conflict continues into 2022, the U.N. projects 500,000 deaths, with most due to indirect impacts of conflict like the degradation of health infrastructure.
How can you help? Visit the International Rescue Committee and pledge to stand by humanity.