International Rescue Committee History

The America branch of what was then called the International relief Association was founded in 1933 on the suggestion of Albert Einstein. This was done to assist the various Germans who were suffering under the power of Adolf Hitler. Over time there were refugees that came in from Mussolini's Italy and Franco's Spain too.

European refugees were helped by Emergency Rescue Committee (ERC) by enabling them to move out from Vichy France where they were trapped. The two organizations came together to form International Relief and Rescue Committee, that was later shortened to International Rescue Committee.

A large number of emergency relief programs were initiated after the World War II and hospital and children centers were created and when the Iron Curtains dropped, IRC was instrumental in ensuring a resettlement program for East European refugees.

In the 1950's IRC started Project Berlin that provided food to the people of West Berlin who lived under Soviet oppression. The IRC began the resettlement program for Cubans in the 1960's. These were the people who were trying to get away from Castro's dictatorship. The other people the IRC helped during this time were the Haitians who were fleeing the Duvalier regime.

In the 1970's the organization achieved international exposure and became active across various countries where people were trying to flee conflict and oppression in Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Guatemala, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Uganda, India and the Soviet Union. In the next decade the IRC started services to aid Afghans trying to flee to Pakistan and less than a decade later they were helping these Afghans resettle back into Afghanistan. During the 80's Palestinians and Lebanese refugees found the IRC centers to be a safe haven post the war of Lebanon. Health care programs were started in Poland and the Women's Refugee Commission was created too.

Other times that where the IRC has played a role includes the Gulf War, civil war in Rwanda, Chechnya conflicts and they played a key role in fighting the various issues that emanated from the September 11th attacks.

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