At least 7.3 million people have fled Ukraine since February 24, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The Russian invasion has now caused the largest displacement crisis in Europe since World War II.
Unfortunately, the harrowing reports from Ukraine follow an alarming global trend. UNHCR reports that the global refugee population has more than doubled in the past decade. Over 84 million people were forced from their homes between 2011 and 2021, but while the majority were internally displaced, 26.6 million were refugees—the highest number ever recorded.
We hope you will join Deed this World Refugee Day by supporting the millions forced to leave their homes, in Ukraine and around the world, through these deserving nonprofits:
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
USA for UNHCR helps and protects refugees and people displaced by violence, conflict, and persecution. Supporting UNHCR—the UN Refugee Agency—and its partners, they provide lifesaving essentials including shelter, water, food, safety, and protection. Around the world, we help refugees survive, recover and build a better future.
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a global organization that responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic well being, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster.
Honored with a Nobel Peace Prize, Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 7 million people who take injustice personally. They work to protect people wherever and whenever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied. Currently the world's largest grassroots human rights organization, they investigate and expose abuses, educate and mobilize the public, and help transform societies to create a safer, more just world.
Doctors Without Borders | Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
Doctors Without Borders | Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) provides independent, impartial medical humanitarian assistance to the people who need it most. The organization cares for people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, natural and human-made disasters in more than 70 countries.
International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)
The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) organizes law students and lawyers to develop and enforce a set of legal and human rights for refugees and displaced persons. Mobilizing direct legal aid, litigation, and systemic advocacy, IRAP serves the world's most persecuted individuals and empowers the next generation of human rights leaders.
Zakat Foundation of America is an international charity organization that helps generous and caring people reach out to those in need. Their goal is to address immediate needs and ensure the self-reliance of the poorest people around the world with Zakat and Sadaqa dollars of privileged Muslims and the support of other generous donors.
Islamic Relief USA strives to alleviate suffering, hunger, illiteracy, and diseases worldwide, regardless of color, race, religion, or creed. Islamic Relief USA helps facilitate border crossings, as well as delivers aid like food, water, new clothes, medical care, and more to provide refugees relief in their new setting. For those who have had to live as refugees for years while waiting to return home, Islamic Relief USA has set up education resources, vocational training, and livelihood opportunities to support.
Save the Children is committed to continuing to help millions of refugee children, regardless of ethnicity, religion or any other factor. Save the Children has worked tirelessly to provide refugees with lifesaving assistance, improve access to education and quality health care, and to protect children from exploitation. Whether in camps, on the move, or in host communities, the organization helps all refugee children from Syria, South Sudan, Burundi, Ukraine, and other countries marred by violence and persecution.
Aura Freedom International is a Canadian charitable organization assisting in the sponsorship and resettlement of refugees. Their mission is to provide support and expertise to groups involved in refugee sponsorship and resettlement.
The British Red Cross is the UK’s largest provider of services for people who have nowhere else to go, helping more than 30,000 people a year who are at some point in the asylum process, including “refugees, asylum seekers, vulnerable migrants and survivors of trafficking”. Each year, the British Red Cross helps millions of people in the UK and around the world get the support they need when crisis strikes.
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is the national umbrella body for refugees and people seeking asylum and those who support them.
Refugees Online e.V. provides refugee and asylum seekers facilities with computers and free internet access. In most cases, the internet is the only way for refugees to keep in touch with their families and to get access to information. Refugees Online e.V. supports refugees by providing free internet access and helping them cope with the isolation whilst away from their home countries and their families.
Refugee Empowerment International
Refugee Empowerment International funds projects for people displaced by conflict around the world. REI supports projects that provide opportunities for people to lead an independent normal life while staying near to home and their loved ones; projects that enable people to give back to the community and make valuable contributions to the local economy as well as rebuilding their own future.