International Rescue Committee EU

JOINT STATEMENT: Three years ago today, the EU activated the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD), providing a safe pathway to protection for millions of people fleeing the war in Ukraine. It was a powerful demonstration of the EU’s unity and solidarity in the face of a humanitarian crisis, providing displaced people with immediate and collective protection, including the right to reside, work, study, and access health care and social support in the EU. But with temporary protection due to expire just one year from now, time is running out to find durable solutions, and provide people with the predictability they need to rebuild their lives with dignity. Together with 109 organisations, including Danish Refugee Council / Dansk Flygtningehjælp, Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) and Caritas Europa, we are asking the EU and its member states to shift from emergency measures to longer-term strategies and solutions. Find a link to the full statement below.

Amid ongoing conflict and widespread displacement in Sudan, midwife Zakia Yaqoup is a lifeline for women and girls in desperate need of maternal care. Serving displaced communities at the IRC clinic funded by EU in Emergencies, Zakia provides critical healthcare, including prenatal care, family planning, and postnatal support. Despite the many challenges she faces—ranging from limited resources to logistical difficulties—Zakia continues her work with unwavering dedication. Women and girls in Sudan are disproportionately impacted by the crisis, with many facing not only a shortage of essential healthcare services but also the added threat of gender-based violence. Zakia's work in the IRC-supported health facility is crucial in addressing both their immediate healthcare needs and their long-term well-being. With over 277,000 people supported by the IRC’s EU-funded programs, including nearly 17,000 receiving sexual and reproductive health services, the IRC continues its vital work, ensuring women and girls have access to the care they need in this challenging environment. Learn more about Zakia’s work and the IRC’s efforts to support women’s health in Sudan: https://lnkd.in/e-eKpshs

Thank you to the European Parliament’s Development Committee for welcoming David Miliband (IRC’s President & CEO) and Eatizaz Yousif (Sudan Country Director) yesterday. David and Eatizaz highlighted some concrete actions the EU could take to better support the world’s most fragile states, including some innovative and cost-effective ways to tackle soaring debt burdens and treat child malnutrition. This is not just a moral imperative, but a strategic one. As David Miliband said: “We shouldn’t be afraid of making a moral and a strategic case for the role of foreign aid - not as the single transferable answer to every problem, but as a coherent response in an interconnected world.” 🎥 You can watch the full presentation here from 15:21: https://lnkd.in/eTgrsJWQ

“We can’t build a safer, more prosperous and more peaceful world unless we leave no one behind” - Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management. That is the key message from yesterday's discussion on the EU’s approach to fragility with David Miliband and Hadja Lahbib, co-hosted with EGMONT - Royal Institute for International Relations. At this moment of soaring humanitarian needs and growing scepticism about the value of foreign aid, the EU must urgently step up and set a bold example. As David Miliband explained, there are four main reasons for it to do so: 1) Moral - The EU has the resources and capacity to support the most valuable, it’s a staple of the EU’s identity. 2) Strategic - Today’s world is increasingly interconnected in terms of health, economics and security and stability. 3) Geopolitical - Foreign aid doesn’t just build trust, but is also key to demonstrating leadership and influence. 4) Value for money - Cost-efficiency is more important than ever and the IRC and partners have identified how to do more with less - in Sudan, for example, providing quarter of a million people with emergency food aid a month for just €130,000. Many thanks to all those who joined us, and took part in a fruitful discussion on this incredibly important and timely issue - in particular panelists Hans Das, Martin Seychell, Barry Andrews MEP, Camilla Brückner, Heidy Rombouts, PhD, and our moderator Dora Meredith. Now it’s time for the EU to put its words into action. As David Miliband concluded: “I used to say that hope leads to action. Now, as a humanitarian, I’d say that action leads to hope."

EVENT: Join us on Monday to learn about the IRC’s 2025 Emergency Watchlist and how the EU can better respond to crises and fragility. We will begin with keynote speeches from David Miliband (IRC’s President and CEO), and Hadja Lahbib (Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management). The following panel discussion will be moderated by Dora Meredith (ODI Europe), with contributions from Hans Das (DG ECHO), Martin Seychell (DG INTPA), Barry Andrews MEP, Camilla Brückner (UNDP) and Heidy Rombouts, PhD (Belgian MFA). The event is hosted jointly by the IRC and EGMONT - Royal Institute for International Relations. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/eX-7N79f ***Please note the event is now fully booked, and registrations have been closed***

Altuma Ibrahim, a 45-year-old mother of nine, is herself along with her children internally displaced after fleeing escalating violence in Khartoum. Once a restaurant owner living a stable life with her children going to school, she now endures the challenges of displacement in Gedaref, Sudan. Despite losing her home, business, and possessions, she remains committed to securing a better future for her children. Altuma found hope at the IRC clinic with support from EU in Emergencies, which significantly helped her family. The IRC medical team corrected her son's misdiagnosed hernia and provided the correct treatment. “Since the organization came, anyone who had a problem or was sick went to them to get treatment. So people's health has improved,” says Altuma. Learn more about Altuma’s story: https://lnkd.in/eyiS7ZV6

Since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan, millions have endured unimaginable hardship. Through IRC programs funded by the EU in Emergencies, Dr. Mogahed Ilkeet has demonstrated unwavering dedication, delivering life-saving medical care to displaced families. Mogahed displaced himself by the conflict, understands the pain and struggle of those seeking refuge. Working at the Tunaydbah camp, he is dedicated to providing life-saving care to those who have fled with nothing but their lives. Among them is Almas, who was forced to flee her home with nothing but her children and two pieces of clothing. She faced countless challenges, including her son’s severe malnutrition. Thanks to the IRC’s support, her son is now on the path to recovery. Learn about Dr. Mogahed Ilkeet’s life-saving care for displaced Sudanese families and malnourished children: https://lnkd.in/eF5GHBji

We're pleased the EU has recognised that more safeguards are needed to prevent its migration deal with Tunisia from violating people's rights. This should be a turning point. With reports that EU-funded security forces have been implicated in a myriad of abuses in Tunisia, it’s essential that all migration deals - including on so-called ‘return hubs’ - are struck on the firm condition that all partners will uphold people’s fundamental rights. We look forward to seeing the “concrete” conditions that are reportedly being drawn up to ensure that this becomes reality. https://lnkd.in/ersZ_HMs

The EU's €2 billion cuts to development assistance could be devastating for some of the world's most fragile communities. For example, countries in the Central Sahel and Sudan - the latter of which is now facing the largest humanitarian crisis ever recorded -  risk receiving four times less development assistance than initially planned over the next two years. This is clearly a step in the wrong direction. And as DG ECHO warns, it “puts at risk the dividends of 20 years of development funding invested in human capital and food security.” Instead, the IRC is calling on the EU not to turn its back on people caught in crisis by scaling up humanitarian and development funding for fragile states, finding new ways to deliver aid in complex settings, and creating a new Resilience Fund. More details in this insightful article from Devex: https://lnkd.in/gKEykXfW And learn more about these changes in our handy explainer: https://lnkd.in/g9nwPNtJ?

✨ New Year, New Resolutions, and Stories of Inspiration ✨ As we step into 2025, many of us are setting resolutions—personal goals to grow, give back, or embrace change. The story of Anna, an incredible IRC client, offers a powerful reminder of resilience and purpose. Anna, a beauty parlor owner and activist, left her hometown of Nova Kakhovka six months after the war escalated. Settling in Odesa, she turned her personal loss into a mission to support others. Through volunteer work, free beauty services, and now her own NGO, Anna creates a bridge to normalcy for other displaced women, helping them rebuild their confidence and feel safe again. Her work highlights how small acts of care—like a haircut—can restore dignity and offer hope. Anna also connects with other women through IRC’s Women Empowerment activities, supported by the EU in Emergencies. Here’s to embracing 2025 with purpose, learning from stories like Anna’s, and setting resolutions that make a difference.