Information Density: International Rescue Committee (IRC) – Signal Evidence & AI Readability

[H2] We help people survive, recover and rebuild their lives

For over 90 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has helped people affected by conflict and disaster. Today, we provide emergency relief wherever it's urgently needed, and help communities rebuild around the world and across the United States. In 2025 alone…

602,500+
children and youth supported in learning programs

2.5 million
people supported with improved water supply services

723,300+
people admitted to nutrition programs

330,000+
people served by resettlement, asylum and integration programs globally

[H2] Our commitment to cost efficiency

When you donate to the IRC, you're investing in an organization that prioritizes efficiency and effectiveness.

[IMG: FY25 efficiency graph]

[H3] Our impact
With a 4-star rating and a 96% score from Charity Navigator, along with Candid's highest Platinum Seal of Transparency, we remain committed to maximizing the impact of every dollar.

Learn more

[H2] News and featured stories

[IMG: World refugee day 2026]

World Refugee Day
[H3] Close the distance
Crisis forces families apart. The IRC works to bring them back together and you can help close the distance this World Refugee Day.

Learn more

[IMG: An IRC day laborer stocks IPC kits for the Ebola/Bundibugyo virus response in Centenaire, Bunia, DRC.]

Ebola

[H3] Ebola outbreak in DRC: What to know and how to help

Read the article

[IMG: Five children play at a playground in Ethiopia.]

International Day of Play

[H3] How play helps children affected by conflict and crisis

Read the article

See the latest

[H2] Get involved

[IMG: Portrait of Nina in the kitchen of her home in Ukraine.]

[H3] Donate
A donation will help ensure aid gets to people.

[IMG: https://www.rescue.org/make-lasting-impact]

[H3] Join Rescue Collective
A community of IRC supporters helping refugees and displaced families rebuild their lives after crisis.

[IMG: A man with his arm around a woman, both looking into the camera and smiling]

[H3] Volunteer
Volunteers play a critical role in helping refugees and immigrants thrive in the United States.

[H2] News & features

[IMG: Afghan refugee family embraces after reuniting in the U.S. with support from the IRC]

World Refugee Day

[H3] Almost 118 million people displaced: Crisis creates distance. Here's how we close it.

Close the distance

[IMG: Five children play at a playground in Ethiopia.]

International Day of Play

[H3] How play helps children affected by conflict and crisis

Read the article

[IMG: An IRC day laborer stocks IPC kits for the Ebola/Bundibugyo virus response in Centenaire, Bunia, DRC.]

Ebola

[H3] Ebola outbreak in DRC: What to know and how to help

Read the article

[IMG: A young displaced refugee, pictured on the street of Beirut, Lebanon.]

Middle East

[H3] Lebanon crisis: What is happening and how to help

Read the article

[IMG: Warda poses for a photo while holding her young son, Mohammad.]

Forced to flee

She fled in the night: A mother’s story from Lebanon
May 8, 2026

[IMG: A mother holding her young daughter claiming asylum with two border control agents.]

Get involved

How to help refugees and asylum seekers in the U.S.
November 7, 2024

[IMG: An IRC health care worker screens a young Rohingya child for signs of malnutrition.]

Rohingya refugees

The Rohingya Crisis: What to know and how to help
August 20, 2025

[IMG: Zeinab’s mother looks at her with care]

Crisis in Sudan

David Miliband: Sudan’s crisis is a warning to the world
April 29, 2026

[IMG: An IRC health worker prepares to administer a vaccine to a young child in Tigray, Ethiopia.]

Innovations in aid

More with less: 5 ways the IRC is adapting in the new era of aid
April 27, 2026

[IMG: Sepideh Moafi at the IRC]

Humanitarian aid

How real humanitarians inspired Sepideh Moafi’s character on “The Pitt”
April 17, 2026

[IMG: A woman poses for a picture in the remnants of a destroyed building in Haiti.]

Watchlist 2026

Haiti's gang violence crisis: What to know and how to help
January 12, 2026

[IMG: Altuma stands in her temporary house with her three children.]

Escalating conflict

Crisis in Sudan: What is happening and how to help
April 17, 2023

[IMG: 20250623-Ethiopia-MTadesse-Health-IMG_0326-3000x2000-111]

Hopeful news roundup

Vaccines reach millions left behind (and 4 more inspiring news stories giving us hope this spring)
March 30, 2026

[IMG: An elderly woman crosses the street in a remote village in the Sumy region.]

War in Ukraine

Photos from the frontline: Winter in Ukraine
February 27, 2026

[H2] Press releases

[H3]
IRC's David Miliband in Ukraine: "Human tenacity is evident in every conversation"

June 18, 2026

[H3]
Women and girls face double threat in the Ebola outbreak; the response must address both

June 17, 2026

[H3]
This World Refugee Day, close the distance

June 15, 2026

[H3]
Russian Attack Destroys IRC-Supported Hospital in Kharkiv

June 13, 2026

[H3]
Forced evacuation orders and airstrikes in southern Lebanon leave desperate families with nowhere to go

June 11, 2026

[H3]
New UN report confirms historic levels of forced displacement as 118 million forced to flee — IRC says

June 10, 2026

Visit our media center

[H2] How to become a volunteer

Volunteers play a critical role in helping refugees and immigrants thrive in the United States. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) offers volunteer opportunities to work remotely and in person (while following COVID-19 precautions). Here's the process:

Search our volunteer opportunities

Apply and attend IRC orientation

Be interviewed by IRC staff

Donate to the background check fund and complete background check

Silver Spring, MD

[H3]
Financial Capabilities Facilitator Volunteer

Available until:  October 01, 2026

The Financial Capabilities Facilitator Volunteer will support the Financial Capabilities program by delivering a financial literacy and empowerment curriculum designed for women. Volunteers will facilitate virtual presentations in participants' preferred languages, administer pre- and post-session assessments, and help create an engaging and supportive learning environment.
This role is ideal for individuals who are passionate about financial education, women's empowerment, and serving refugee and immigrant communities.

Seattle, WA

[H3]
SASIC Data Volunteer (Virtual)

Start Date: Ongoing

Provide short-term data support for the Services for Afghan Survivors In Combat program to help ensure tracking and reporting remain accurate and up to date.

Wichita, KS

[H3]
Refugee School Impact (RSI) Summer Program Volunteer

Available until:  July 24, 2026

Every Summer, Refugee School of Impact commits 3 weeks to working with our youth. Each week to dedicated to an age group (Elementary, Middle, and Highschool).

New York, NY

[H3]
New Roots Community Farm Workday

Available until:  November 07, 2026

Work in our New Roots Community Farm for the day! Help to weed and harvest crops.

Elizabeth, NJ

[H3]
The Front Desk Volunteer

Start Date: Ongoing

The Front Desk Volunteer will provide coverage for the reception desk, greet and direct client walk-ins, and schedule client appointments with appropriate staff.

New York, NY

[H3]
Front Desk Operations Volunteer

Start Date: Ongoing

The Front Desk Volunteer will provide coverage for the reception desk, greet and direct client walk-ins, and schedule client appointments with appropriate staff.

Seattle, WA

[H3]
VRISE Intern (Late June-August 2026)

Start Date: Ongoing

Join the Virtual Resilience through Relationships, Identity, and Student Empowerment Program this summer as an intern!

San Diego, CA

[H3]
Workforce and Integration: Financial Capabilities Volunteer

Start Date: Ongoing

The IRC San Diego Workforce & Integration Department is seeking a volunteer to support the Financial Capabilities Program. This hands‑on role assists with financial literacy services, data management, and day‑to‑day team operations.

Los Angeles, CA

[H3]
Intensive Case Management (ICM) Spanish-speaking Volunteer - Summer 2026

Start Date: Ongoing

The Intensive Case Management (ICM) volunteer will work closely with ICM caseworker(s) to assist with addressing clients’ needs in their area of vulnerability and address barriers to health and wellness for refugee and displaced clients with severe physical or mental health conditions, the elderly, clients who identify as LGBTQ+, single-headed households, primary caregivers, and victims of sexual assault and gender-based violence enrolled in the ICM program. The primary role of the ICM Volunteer will be to serve as a Spanish/English translator between ICM Caseworker and their Spanish-speaking clients.

Phoenix, AZ

[H3]
Refugee Support Services (RSS) Volunteer

Start Date: Ongoing

Be part of a community-centered effort to support refugees as they rebuild their lives with dignity and opportunity. As an RSS volunteer, you will collaborate with caseworkers to help individuals and families access essential resources, navigate systems, and work toward economic stability, all while contributing to a more equitable and inclusive community.

Phoenix, AZ

[H3]
Monthly Food Distribution Volunteer(s)

Start Date: Ongoing

Join IRC Phoenix for a community-centered food distribution event in partnership with St. Mary’s Food Bank and Trinity Mennonite Church. Volunteers will help provide fresh produce and culturally relevant foods directly to families experiencing food insecurity. This is a meaningful opportunity to stand in solidarity with refugee and immigrant communities while supporting equitable access to nutritious food.

[H2] Make a difference, everyday

[IMG: Woman with child]

[H3] Take action
Join the thousands of IRC supporters who have called their representatives, written letters, or otherwise advocated for change in their communities and worldwide.

[IMG: Three-year-old Juniper welcomes Afghans arriving to the United States.]

[H3] Sponsor a refugee family
Members of an established organization, such as a business, faith group, sports team or local club, can partner with the IRC to welcome refugees in their community.

[IMG: Children at an IRC-run program]

[H3] Make a monthly donation
Our monthly supporters are the backbone of our work.

[IMG: Resettled family stands in front of their home in the United States]

[H3] Rent to refugees
Housing is a cornerstone for refugee families as they recover and rebuild their lives. Landlords can make a difference by renting to refugees.

[H2] Learn more

Watch IRC Ambassadors Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody in a discussion with the IRC’s Milagros Cruz about the many ways people across the country can volunteer for the IRC.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mandy Patinkin (@mandypatinkin)

[H3]

Apply for an IRC Internship

Get hands-on experience in refugee resettlement and more.

Submit an application

[H2] Why I volunteer with the IRC

[IMG: Mary]

I believe refugees have a right to dignity and respect for their cultures, traditions, and lives before their displacement. I don’t believe this right always exists in the U.S., and I want to work towards changing the status quo.

Mary

IRC volunteer in Dallas

In a decade, the number of people forced from their homes has more than doubled, from 59.5 million in 2014 to over 120 million in 2024. The UNHCR reports that 117.8 million people around the world were forcibly displaced in 2025.The numbers remain at historic highs. But the distance between us shouldn't.This World Refugee Day, the International Rescue Committee invites you to join us in our efforts to close that distance: reaching people in crisis zones, supporting them on the long journey toward safety, and helping them rebuild wherever they are.

[IMG: Two people embrace after a family reunification an airport in the U.S.]

[H3] You can close the distance
Donations help the IRC deliver aid in crisis zones, support people seeking safety, and so much more.

Give now

[H2] Are there fewer people displaced now than before?
For the first time in a decade, the total number of forcibly displaced people declined—from 123 million at the end of 2024 to 117.8 million at the end of 2025. However, this is not a story of progress. The decline was driven by one of the highest return rates of both refugees and internally displaced people on record. But these returns are not a sign that crises have been resolved. People are returning to communities in Syria, where 90% of the population lives in poverty. They are returning to Sudan, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, not to situations of stability but fragility. Millions returned to countries wracked by conflict and crisis as the protections they rely on were stripped away. Resettlement—one of the few genuinely durable pathways to safety—shrunk to its lowest level since 2011. There are now nearly three times as many refugees in the world as there were then. Asylum backlogs grew in 2025, all while the share of global aid to fragile and conflict-affected states collapsed.The number of people forcibly displaced went down. The need for solutions did not.
[H2] Meet the people behind the numbers
The distances refugees and displaced people face are not abstract. For a sick child, the nearest clinic can be 50 miles away, across mountains, on roads that disappear in the rainy season. For a family forced to flee, the rare chance at resettlement can mean starting over thousands of miles from everything they knew. For a child trying to learn, school can be a long walk through areas marred by conflict.The distance between us is smaller than we think. We share the same hopes for our families, fears in uncertain times, and need for safety, stability and opportunity. Below, meet five IRC clients. Each of their journeys began differently, but they share a common thread: a path forward, made possible when the IRC was there to help close the distance.

[IMG: Aisha, 13, braids her friend’s hair outside her home in Aburakham village, Gadaref State, Sudan.]

Aisha, a thirteen-year-old from Sudan, has been living with sickle cell anemia, which caused a severe infected wound in her leg, leaving her unable to walk or attend school. Limited access to healthcare and financial constraints worsened her condition. One day, an IRC mobile health clinic team reached and refferred her for urgent surgery and comprehensive postoperative care at Gadaref Hospital in Sudan. Since then, Aisha has fully recovered, returned to school and has found a creative outlet in braiding modern hairstyles for her neighbors.

1 of 5

[IMG: The Hussaini family embraces at a U.S. airport, reunited after fleeing Afghanistan with IRC legal help.]

"When we got home, I hugged my mom and cried for one hour. Now my mom says—come closer. We're not going to lose each other again." The Hussaini family was separated as they fled Afghanistan in 2021. Nearly two years later, with help from the IRC's legal team, the family was finally reunited safely in the U.S.

2 of 5

[IMG: Casey, a refugee in London, stands by a lake after IRC employment and well-being support.]

Casey, a refugee living in London, arrived in the UK feeling lost. "I don't have any family or friends in the UK—nobody to support me. There was a point in my life when I felt like giving up." Through intensive one-on-one employability training and well-being support from the IRC, Casey found stable employment and a community. She now hopes to start her own business one day. The IRC helped close the distance between crisis and stability.

3 of 5

[IMG: Birhe holds her young child in a shelter after being displaced by war and receiving IRC medical care.]

Birhe was displaced by conflict in Ethiopia while pregnant and endured a traumatic journey on foot. She ultimately lost her home and livelihood, and was separated from her husband. The IRC provided critical medical support during her displacement and ensured her youngest child received his previously missed vaccinations.

4 of 5

[IMG: Khamissa, 70, holds her grandson, Djaba, after he was discharged from an IRC health clinic in Chad.]

At seventy years old, Khamissa walked for two days through a conflict zone to rescue her grandchildren from Sudan. Once she returned to Chad, her two-year-old grandson Djaba, received treatment for severe acute malnutrition from the IRC and has since recovered.

5 of 5

[H2] How the IRC is closing the distance every day
At the IRC, closing the distance is more than a message—it is our work every day, in some of the world's toughest places. We help close the distance between danger and safety, crisis and care, and lifesaving support and the people who need it most.Every day, the IRC delivers vital support in more than 40 crisis-affected countries, including:Health and survival. Treating malnutrition in children's homes, bringing mobile health clinics and vaccines to communities cut off by conflict, disaster or geography. Education. Bringing learning to children wherever crisis has displaced them, through caregivers, community educators and technology that works on the devices families already own. Cash and resilience. Putting resources directly in families' hands—both after disaster strikes and, increasingly, before by using early warning systems to help families prepare for shocks and recover faster. Protection pathways. Helping people forced to flee reach safety and stability, providing trusted information, legal assistance and economic support to rebuild their lives in new communities.Find out more about what the IRC does to close the distance and how you can help deliver aid in crisis-affected communities around the world.

[IMG: An infant in Gaza is treated for malnutrition by an IRC health worker.]

An IRC staff member treats a young child for signs of malnutrition at a camp for displaced Palestinians in Gaza. Photo: Mohammad Abu Samra for the IRC

[H2] What needs to change
Nearly 118 million people are displaced today. The solutions, systems and support meant to help them are not keeping pace. But the IRC is not waiting for the gap to close itself. Every day, in more than 40 countries, the IRC is closing the distance between people in crisis and the durable solutions they need, like expanding safe pathways to protection, providing legal assistance to keep families together and supporting refugees in rebuilding their lives through employment, financial stability and community.With more than 70% of refugees coming from just six fragile and conflict-affected countries, the IRC works directly in these places, helping communities withstand crises before people are forced to flee, and supporting those who do with the protection and services they need. Closing the distance also means going beyond the last mile: bringing vaccines to zero-dose children, cash assistance to families before disaster strikes, and trusted information to people navigating unfamiliar systems in languages they understand. But this work demands collective action. With aid budgets slashed and humanitarian needs rising, policymakers, financial institutions, and global partners must invest in stability and opportunity. Help us close the distance.

[IMG: Children stand outside a war-damaged community hall in Ukraine, where the IRC provides medical and legal aid.]

Children stand outside their local community hall in Ukraine. IRC teams in Ukraine provide critical medical aid, psychological assistance, livelihood and legal support, with a focus on vulnerable groups, especially women and children. Photo: Tamara Kiptenko for the IRC

[H2] You can help close the distance
When we show up for refugees, whether across the street or across the world, we help bring people closer to safety, opportunity and belonging. Everyone has a role to play. Here are ways you can make a difference:Donate. Help provide lifesaving support so refugees can recover from crisis and rebuild their lives, both locally and globally. Volunteer. Mentor, tutor or support refugee families in your community. Contact an IRC office near you to get involved. Spread awareness. Share stories of refugees and celebrate their contributions through your social networks. Advocate. Raise your voice for policies that protect refugees and create pathways to safety and opportunity. Welcome. Invite refugees to community events, share local resources, or simply introduce yourself and have a conversation. Support refugee-owned businesses. Shop, promote or partner with businesses run by refugees in your community.Every action helps close the distance for refugees in communities around the world.

[IMG: Two people embrace after a family reunification an airport in the U.S.]

[H3] You can close the distance
Donations help the IRC deliver aid in crisis zones, support people seeking safety, and so much more.

Give now