IRC

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a global humanitarian organization founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein. The IRC responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. The IRC works in over 40 countries, providing emergency aid, protection, and long-term assistance to refugees and internally displaced people.

In Ukraine, the IRC has been operational since 2014, initially focusing on supporting conflict-affected populations in the east. Following the full-scale invasion in 2022, the IRC rapidly scaled up its response to provide multi-sectoral assistance across the country. Programs include health services, protection for vulnerable groups (including women and children), cash assistance, shelter repairs, winterization support, and access to clean water and sanitation. The IRC works through local partners and direct implementation in areas such as Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Odesa.

Since the escalation of the war in Ukraine, the IRC has reached over 1.5 million people with critical aid. In 2023 alone, the IRC provided over 100,000 health consultations, distributed cash assistance to more than 50,000 households, and supported over 200,000 people with protection services. The IRC continues to adapt its response to meet evolving needs, including winterization and support for displaced populations.