"Many of our staff members have been displaced themselves. One of our staff members told us that she had to flee with her family at 2am."
IRC Vice President for Policy and Advocacy Kelly Razzouk describes the impact of the escalation in Lebanon and how the IRC is responding on BBC News.
"We're seeing a crisis within a humanitarian crisis. Lebanon already had 80% of its population living in poverty. Now many are coming to these shelters with just the clothes on their backs."
IRC's Kelly Razzouk tells ABC News how our teams are responding in Lebanon:
abcnews.com/video/130878...
Over 700,000 people have been forced to flee their homes across Lebanon, triggering a rapidly deepening humanitarian crisis.
Our warning: www.rescue.org/uk/press-rel...
Read our full statement: www.rescue.org/uk/press-rel...
Entering with permission to study and going on to claim asylum when war breaks out in your country is not abusing the system of protection set up to provide sanctuary to those in need.
Calling this misuse obscures the real issue: that most people have no alternative safe route to the UK.
The Government is restricting visa access for people from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar & Sudan at a moment when new safe routes are not yet operational and remain extremely limited.
All 4 of these countries feature on the IRC’s 2026 Emergency Watchlist among the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The measures announced by the Home Secretary today risk undermining the UK's legacy as a place of refuge at a time when it is most needed.
If the Government wants to demonstrate control and compassion to the British public, it must create safe routes at meaningful scale.
The Government is restricting visa access for people from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar & Sudan at a moment when new safe routes aren't yet operational & remain extremely limited.
All 4 of these countries feature on the IRC’s 2026 Emergency Watchlist among the world’s worst humanitarian crises. ⬇️
Rapid international support is needed to prevent deeper suffering for thousands of families already living on the edge of crisis.
Lebanon’s population was already struggling after years of economic crisis and underfunded humanitarian response. This latest escalation is pushing many families, including refugees and migrant workers, beyond their ability to cope. ⬇️
Many arrived in the capital overnight from southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs, hoping for safety.
But with official shelters already full, parents and children are now sleeping in cars, on pavements, and in any space they can find. ⬇️
In just three days, over 71,000 people—-including many IRC staff—have been forced to flee their homes across Lebanon.
These photos, taken in Beirut yesterday, capture the reality for families fleeing intensified violence. ⬇️
Millions across the Middle East region are already grappling with the effects of conflict, displacement, climate shocks and economic hardship. Now these escalations risk pushing vulnerable families into an even deeper crisis.
www.rescue.org/uk/press-rel...
A well-functioning system is one that delivers swift, fair decisions and enables people to move forward - not one that traps them in prolonged uncertainty or weakens community cohesion.
Our response to the Home Secretary's statement on asylum changes: www.rescue.org/uk/press-rel...
These measures will be costly to the taxpayer and require significant Home Office resources, while doing nothing to address the factors that force people to flee.
The ongoing suspension of refugee family reunion keeps families apart and makes it even harder for people to rebuild their lives. 2/3
Cutting refugee protection from 5 years to 30 months strips away the stability people need to rebuild their lives.
There is no evidence these measures will deter dangerous journeys; instead, they will make it harder for refugees to put down roots, build relationships & contribute their skills. 1/3
There has been a 23% reduction in the numbers of people granted a safe humanitarian route to enter the UK compared to last year. The government should focus on expanding safe routes and helping refugees to rebuild their lives.
The migration figures for 2025 show that people arriving on small boats are fleeing crisis and conflict, the majority from Eritrea, Afghanistan, Iran, Sudan and Somalia. They are arriving despite deterrence policies because their need for safety remains.
These services provide safe, confidential care for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence — reducing stigma and strengthening access to life-saving support.
More: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/royals/...
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Edinburgh meeting local staff members at an IRC sexual and reproductive health centre in Mogadishu, Somalia
The Duchess met women and girls accessing UK-funded sexual and reproductive health services, which the IRC delivers in 39 facilities across five different regions of Somalia which are affected by insecurity and displacement.
We were honoured to welcome HRH Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh to an IRC-supported health facility in Mogadishu, Somalia, during a visit to help raise awareness of the urgent issue of gender-based violence in crisis and conflict.
www.royal.uk/news-and-act...
"We’ve become more independent in this period, but at the same time we’re closer together. Every morning we wake up & try to understand, 'Are all my loved ones alive today?'"
Anna from the IRC's Ukraine team speaks to BBC World Service, 4 years into the full-scale war:
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
"We hope that the Government will be seeing that the needs are still growing, and that they can support the Ukrainian people for a longer period of time."
4 years into full-scale war in Ukraine, our Ukraine Director Alain Homsy explains the challenges: www.express.co.uk/news/politic...
An older man stands next to a high fence in a landscape covered in snow. He is wearing a winter coat and hat and looking towards the camera.
A woman adding wood to the fire of an old stove in a cramped kitchen. She is surrounded by cardboard boxes, mugs and bare brick wall.
A parent and child in winter coats walk through the snow, away from the camera.
An older woman in a winter coat and hat stands in the snow talking to an IRC staff member in a branded vest.
"The resilience of the Ukrainian people is extraordinary, but the world cannot allow this crisis to become invisible; sustained support is the only way to ensure that families make it through another winter.”
Read more from IRC Ukraine Director Alain Homsy: www.rescue.org/press-releas...
An elderly woman in a winter coat and hat is crossing a road covered in slushy snow, putting her walking stick out in front of her.
As Ukraine marks 4 years of full-scale war, Ukrainians are enduring their most brutal winter yet.
Every day, families are struggling to survive amidst relentless attacks and blackouts, while freezing temperatures are limiting access to essentials like medical care and humanitarian aid. 1/2
Healing Classrooms is the IRC’s flagship education programme in the UK, supporting schools to welcome refugee students while fostering a sense of belonging for all children.
Find out more: www.rescue.org/uk/irc-uks-h...
An illustration of two women sitting on brightly coloured flowers as a bird flies past. One woman has blonde hair and pale skin, the other has brown skin and is wearing a hijab.
We’re excited to launch our new Healing Classrooms course in partnership with @openuniversity.bsky.social.
This free of charge, self-paced, online course is for all teachers and educators looking to better support refugee and asylum-seeking children in their classrooms:
www.open.edu/openlearncre...
Despite the size and scale of these problems, solutions are available. The IRC's Emergency Watchlist outlines calls to action for individuals, governments, policymakers.
Find out more: www.rescue.org/uk/article/n...
An IRC staff member and client in South Sudan wade through knee-deep water around the client's flooded property. She is carrying a young child on her hip.
5. Climate shocks like flooding and droughts are increasing
These shocks can threaten to food security and economic stability, especially in countries already experiencing conflict and crisis.
Yet only a tiny fraction of climate funding goes towards adaptation in climate-vulnerable countries.
A chart showing the number of people displaced worldwide each year since 2010, and the proportion of those from Watchlist countries (80% in 2025).
4. People are being forced to flee their homes at record levels
In 2025, 117.3 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide, 4 in 5 of them uprooted by conflict, violence or persecution.
