'Refugees International' is an
Non-governmental organization headed by Ken Bacon. The former president was Lionel Rosenblatt.
Mission statement
Refugees International (RI) generates lifesaving
humanitarian assistance and protection for
displaced persons around the world and works to end the conditions that create displacement.
Advocacy
The characteristics of RI's effective and efficient organization are independence, flexibility, and the cutting-edge quality of our advocacy. It takes an uncompromising rights-based approach to advocacy on behalf of
refugees and displaced persons.
RI acts first and foremost as a witness to the suffering of the displaced. Its
advocates spend weeks in the field interviewing and meeting with war-affected populations, non-governmental organizations and
aid agencies. RI has conducted missions in over 30 countries. In the past year, RI visited the
Great Lakes region of
Africa,
West Africa,
Cambodia,
Sri Lanka,
Indonesia,
Colombia,
Uganda, the
Thai-
Burmese border, and
Haiti.
RI advocates assess humanitarian problems, identify the most urgent needs and move quickly to develop immediate solutions to those needs. Their contribution to the humanitarian field lies in a unique combination of advocacy and action, both with hands-on expertise in crisis situations and with policymakers in Washington, New York, Geneva and other centers.
Leverage
RI's advocacy generates increases in resources and
policy changes by
governments and
UN agencies that improve conditions for refugees and displaced people. RI does not accept any government or UN funding. Rather, RI leverages donations from individuals, foundations and corporations.
External link
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Refugees International home page
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Interview with RI's Sean Garcia on the plight of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees