In the middle of the night, Ali and his family raced in an ambulance from SeaTac Airport to a team of waiting doctors at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Fleeing the threat of death at the hands of extremists and battling time to save the life of his gravely ill seven-year-old son, Ali had spent the last two and a half years pleading for a chance to leave Iraq, to exchange home for safety. Now, with the support of the Seattle community, Ali and his family begin the journey of rebuilding their lives.

This World Refugee Day, we examine the pressing challenges that refugees face around the world and consider how we can address them.

A record high of 110 million people have fled their homes in search of safety and stability. This is more than any other time since World War II.

The IRC in Charlottesville is committed to bringing our beneficiaries from harm to home. As a part of that commitment, we provide them with necessities they will need to start rebuilding their lives here. To do this, the IRC relies on donated items from community partners that are passed into the hands of our beneficiaries free of charge either through our Resettlement Store or as part of an initial apartment setup.

Interested in volunteering, but short on time? Short-term, high-impact service projects are a great way to welcome and support refugees who are new to our community! Team up with a group of friends, family, classmates, coworkers or other IRC volunteers for any of the activities below.

Many newcomers arrive in the U.S. with a wealth of professional skills and experience, but starting one’s career over again in a new country can be an overwhelming process. Career Connect is a new IRC program helping refugees take steps toward re-entering professions they were forced to leave behind.

Women are able to improve English and progress towards employment and furthering their education through IRC's Women's Empowerment Program.

Volunteer groups can provide critical support for newly-arriving families as they rebuild their lives.

The International Rescue Committee in Salt Lake City is rapidly responding to the humanitarian crisis that continues to unfold in Afghanistan by preparing to help Afghan families soon to arrive to Utah settle into their new home.

The IRC in Salt Lake City’s team of trained interpreters help families overcome challenges and access the services they need by breaking down language barriers.