From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a
leading non-sectarian, non-governmental international relief and humanitarian
aid organization based in the United States. The IRC's mission is to
help those fleeing racial, religious and ethnic persecution, as well as
those uprooted by war and violence.
History
In 1933, the American branch of the European-based International
Relief Association (IRA) was founded at the suggestion of Albert
Einstein, in order to assist Germans affected by Adolf Hitler's
government. Later, refugees from Mussolini's Italy and Franco's
Spain were assisted. In 1940, the Emergency
Rescue Committee (ERC) was formed to aid European refugees
trapped in Vichy France. Over 2,000 political, cultural, union and
academic leaders were rescued in thirteen months. In 1942, IRA and
ERC joined forces under the name, International Relief and Rescue
Committee, which was later shortened to the International
Rescue Committee.[1]
Operations
At work in more than 25 countries, IRC delivers a number of
services, including: emergency response, health care, programs
fighting gender based violence, children and youth protection and
development programs, water and sanitation systems, the
establishment of schools, training of teachers, strengthening the
capacity of local organizations and supporting civil society and
good-governance initiatives.
For refugees afforded sanctuary in the United States, IRC resettlement offices across the
country provide a range of assistance aimed at helping new arrivals
settling, adjusting and acquiring the skills to become
self-sufficient.
The IRC gives out an annual Freedom Award "for extraordinary
contributions to the cause of refugees and human freedom".
The current President of the IRC is George Erik Rupp, formerly the
President of Columbia University and Rice
University.
The IRC is currently spearheading an effort to "Urge President Obama to Take
Action for Children's Rights" to have the United States sign
the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. 193 nations have
signed this UN convention. The only other non-signer is
Somalia.
Reports
- In a series of five ground-breaking mortality surveys between
2000 and 2007, the IRC documented the devastating impact of the
crisis in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo.[2]
- The IRC issued a report detailing the plight of Iraqi refugees
on the five-year anniversary of the U.S.-led occupation of
Iraq.[3]
See also
References
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