Photojournalist Mohammad Anwar Danishyar discusses his journey and work, from documenting life in Afghanistan to chronicling the stories of those who had to flee.

In mid-August 2021, when many at-risk Afghans evacuated to the United States, local organizations rallied to provide support.

The IRC in Tucson is committed to bringing our refugee clients from harm to home. As a part of that commitment, we provide necessities such as clothing and household items which are needed to start rebuilding their lives here.

Each year the International Rescue Committee (IRC) works closely with state elected leaders to ensure that the communities in which we resettle are welcoming places for refugees and other new Americans. In addition to working directly on policy, we assess introduced legislation through our state tracker and identify new model policies and the trends in legislation—all informing the policies included in this guide. Year to year it has reflected emerging themes such as: resources for refugee-serving programs; reduced barriers for re-credentialing and licensure processes in states; and access to in-state tuition, to name a few. These measures not only help ensure refugees and other newcomers can access pathways to economic self-sufficiency and integrate more smoothly, but they positively impact the broader community as well. States and localities across the country can only benefit from the personal and professional success that a recently arrived individual achieves as they rebuild their lives. This year’s state policy and advocacy guide includes new policy themes and some familiar ones—but with nuanced examples as the policy efforts take shape in different states and political contexts. Recommendations provided are informed by stakeholder engagement and landscaping impacted communities to understand service provision needs, and strategic assessments of the political realities on the ground.

There are now 100 million people displaced worldwide as a result of the Ukraine war and new waves of conflict and violence in other countries.

Nolasque Balitebya began working for the IRC as a Swahili interpreter in 2019 shortly after he and his family were resettled in Missoula by the IRC. His 'can-do' attitude and eagerness to support newly arriving refugee families stood out to all staff at the IRC, and he was promoted to Caseworker in 2021. Now, Nolasque has begun the next step in his IRC journey. In March, Nolasque began serving as a Roving Direct Services Program Manager for IRC's Reception and Placement (R&P) programs. We sat down with Nolasque to reflect on his journey with the IRC in Missoula and what he is looking forward to next.