International Rescue Committee

Even after reaching a safe country, many refugees and asylum seekers face the lasting trauma of violence and displacement. Since February 2016, the IRC in Lesvos, Greece, provided vital mental health and psychosocial support to help individuals heal and rebuild their lives. The program also extended to the host community, addressing the island's lack of mental health services. Swipe 👉 to explore Melita, Mariam, Shakira, Anastasiia, and Federica’s stories, brought to life by artist Sahar Ghorishi. 1. Melita struggled as a widow for years, avoiding counseling despite her children's encouragement. After seeking help, she formed a strong bond with her support officer and now feels hopeful about her future. 2. Mariam arrived in Greece from Afghanistan with her sister seven years ago, but was separated from her soon after. Struggling with depression during her pregnancy, she found relief through the IRC’s psychosocial services, where she could share and process her emotions. 3. Shakira fled persecution in the Republic of the Congo and tragically miscarried during her journey. In Lesvos, therapy helped her reclaim her identity and inspired her to teach dance, building a vibrant community of locals and asylum seekers. 4. Anastasiia fled Ukraine after missiles hit her hometown. In Greece, she found a supportive network through the IRC program, empowering her to share her challenges and move forward despite the stress of displacement. 5. Federica turned to therapy after panic attacks surfaced from unresolved issues in her difficult childhood. With the support of her psychologist, she gained the tools to find balance in her life and confidently pursue her dreams.

Thousands of Syrian refugees who once sought safety in Lebanon are now being forcibly displaced back to Syria due to the escalating conflict. More than a quarter of a million people are estimated to have crossed into Syria to escape the growing dangers in Lebanon, including both Lebanese and Syrian families. Some have reported being forced to pay large sums of money to reach their destinations, with no money left over for basic necessities. Needs in Syria are now at their highest since the conflict began 14 years ago - a situation likely to deteriorate with the arrival of more displaced people. Meanwhile, only a quarter of the funding required to meet the existing needs in Syria has been secured. The IRC has been working in Syria since 2012, providing lifesaving health care and protection services. Learn more at Rescue.org.

Every child, parent and caregiver in Gaza is experiencing trauma. Even before the latest escalation, at least half a million children in Gaza needed mental health and psychosocial support. Now, the cumulative effects of unrelenting violence, forced displacement and the loss of an entire school year are likely to impact them for the rest of their lives. The time to act to provide relief and scale-up humanitarian aid is now, to protect children and ensure their recovery. Swipe to reflect on what has been lost and what the IRC is doing to help.

Sara*, a Lebanese mother of four children, delivered her baby on September 23. Just a few hours later, she was forced to flee her home in the southern suburb of Beirut. She and her family were unable to find space in the overcrowded shelters nearby, and now have no place to go. Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have displaced over half a million people like Sara, according to Lebanese authorities. These photos show just a few of them. In a recent IRC needs assessment, 90% of the newly displaced families interviewed said that they cannot meet basic needs like food, shelter and health care. With at least 2,000 people dead and more than 9,000 injured since October, the ground invasion is compounding the deteriorating humanitarian situation across the country. All parties in the region must heed calls for an immediate ceasefire. The IRC has worked and is on the ground with a recently deployed medical team to help the displaced. We are also providing free medical consultations, medications and mental health and psychosocial support. *Pseudonym used to protect the family’s privacy.

“You hear a terrifying bombing sound every 3 minutes, day and night. This has a great impact on a person’s psyche” This is the daily reality for millions of Palestinians, including Ataf and her daughter Heba, whose lives have been shattered over the past year. Their family has now been displaced 10 times and is currently living in makeshift tents in Khan Younis, with a lack of adequate food, water and electricity. Amidst this devastation, many, like 27-year-old Nour, have dedicated themselves to providing relief for others, despite the overwhelming hardships they face. Learn more ⬇

After a year of escalating conflict, none of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are fully functioning, with only 17 able to operate at all. Israeli airstrikes, bombing and ground-level fighting have killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, according to OCHA, which bases its figures on the Gazan Ministry of Health statistics. The violence has destroyed homes, hospitals, schools, shelters, religious sites, and essential services like bakeries, leaving no place safe across the whole of Gaza. Health care workers like Dr Ammar are doing all they can to save lives, but only a ceasefire can protect civilians and ensure the safe return of all hostages. Listen as Dr Ammar shares his experience working at Nasser Hospital as part of our joint Emergency Medical Team with Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)

In teacher Turinawe Godard's classroom in Uganda, LEGO bricks are a critical learning tool. Received through the IRC and LEGO Foundation's PlayMatters program, the LEGO bricks help children who are refugees build an essential educational foundation, just like their peers in stable living situations. Thanks to The LEGO Foundation for helping these extraordinary kids learn through play. #WorldTeachersDay #LearningThroughPlay

Nearly one year has passed since the beginning of the latest escalation of conflict in Gaza. Now, the conflict seems likely to escalate into a wider regional war. More than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed as a result of Israel’s ground and air operations. All of Gaza’s population of 2.1 million is now in need of humanitarian assistance, and more than two million Palestinians—half of them children—are living without access to sufficient water, food, shelter and medical care. As the only way to protect Palestinian lives, and enable the release of the remaining hostages, the IRC continues to call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire. In the meantime, the IRC is calling on all parties with influence to put in place a “humanitarian reset” that will allow for an immediate and significant scale up of humanitarian aid to those in need. Meanwhile, following nearly two weeks of escalating hostilities in Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes have, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry, killed more than 1,000 people, and displaced over one million. To prevent further loss of life, suffering and displacement, the IRC calls for all parties in the region to heed calls for an immediate ceasefire.

As the IRC’s inaugural #StreamersforHumanity campaign comes to a close, we’re thrilled to announce that we raised nearly $50,000 to support our humanitarian mission worldwide. This incredible achievement was made possible thanks to the generosity of creators, their communities, and our dedicated corporate partners who rallied behind this effort.   A special thank you to our corporate partners who played a crucial role in this success. The Tripadvisor Foundation match funds helped amplify the impact of every donation, while the Bungie Foundation, Eneba, Crystal Dynamics, and Cotopaxi leveraged their funding, networks and prizes to make Streamers for Humanity not just a success but a sustainable opportunity for the future.   This campaign has allowed us to build and strengthen our collaboration with the global gaming and creator communities, turning this moment into a new IRC tradition. We’re excited to keep this momentum going, engaging with gamers and creators throughout the year, and returning even bigger and better in 2025. 

Civilians should never be targets. Ever. Of the 1,640 people killed by the escalating conflict in Lebanon, 104 are children. 8,400 people are injured and 211,000 are displaced. And while the IRC is preparing an emergency response, ongoing insecurity may hinder our ability to deliver aid. In a region already devastated by conflict, displacement, and poverty the last thing civilians need is more war. We urge all parties to find a diplomatic solution and avoid further human suffering.