New York, NY, November 11, 2024 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the European Union (EU) announced the continuation of their partnership for the upcoming year. The renewal of the partnership comes after a humanitarian response which has reached over 116,000 people with humanitarian needs in Latin America since 2022. The next program’s goal is to provide services to over 40,000 additional people by the end of May 2025.
Millions of people are estimated to need humanitarian aid throughout Latin America as they experience crises within their home countries, while they search for safety, and when they are trying to resettle in a safe country. As part of a comprehensive regional project funded by the EU, the IRC delivered integrated protection services tailored to the contexts of Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Peru, and Venezuela between June 2022 and May 2024. By combining direct response efforts and collaboration with eight local organizations, the IRC provided aid to more than 116,000 people during the two-year project. The programs were focused on delivering protection services, including creating safe spaces for populations most affected by humanitarian crises; responding to gender-based violence for women, girls and the LGBTI+ populations; providing psychosocial support and case management; delivering multipurpose cash assistance for women and children; and ensuring access to reliable information through the global Signpost project.
Building on the achievements from previous years, the IRC and the EU renewed their partnership to continue delivering critical aid in the areas of health care, multipurpose cash transfers and protection services in Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru and in Venezuela through work with local organizations. This second phase of the partnership will consist of a combination of direct implementation and delivery through local partners, including organizations such as Fundación Lunita Lunera and PRISMA.
Julio Rank Wright, Regional Vice President for the International Rescue Committee in Latin America, said:
“Our region faces protracted crises that are at risk of being forgotten. As these crises deepen, challenges to deliver aid increase. There are gaps in the support and resources allocated by the international community, with Humanitarian Response Plans historically being underfunded or non-existent for certain countries.
“The support that the IRC has received from the European Union has been key to fostering a coordinated and multi-sector regional response and support people affected by humanitarian crises—including the climate crisis—to help them survive, recover and rebuild their lives. We call on world leaders to robustly invest in humanitarian and development assistance in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
"The humanitarian situation across the region is dire, with millions of people grappling with acute food needs, violence, insecurity, and the adverse effects of hurricane and tropical storms. The need for humanitarian aid remains high," emphasizes Nicolas GOVAERT, EU humanitarian expert for Central America and Mexico. "The EU is committed to providing vital support—from health and protection services to food and shelter—to people in need in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama and Costa Rica.