COMMENTARY
Heidi Lehmann
Peter Burgess

Dear Friend,

At the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya -- where the IRC provides lifesaving services to refugees fleeing the drought and famine in Somalia -- there has been a four-fold increase in reports of sexual violence since the start of the crisis in June.

The stories I’ve heard from the women my team serves there are sadly similar. After walking miles in the scorched desert, often with malnourished children on their backs, they arrived at the refugee camp expecting a safe haven. Yet, the danger continued and they were targeted with sexual violence.

The IRC is committed to providing security and support for these women, and other refugees around the world whose lives and communities have been shattered by conflict or disaster.

Right now, we have an opportunity to raise $3.08 million to support these and all of our relief efforts worldwide. Special friends of the IRC will match all online donations dollar for dollar up to $1.54 million -- through December 31. Donate now.

The IRC is the only global humanitarian aid organization with a team focused specifically on ending violence against women and girls. Our experts develop innovative strategies to combat violence against women wherever we work.

In Kenya, we recently opened a Women and Girls’ Wellness Center, which helps women who have fled the drought and famine get safe access to basic necessities such as health care. We’re also providing counseling for survivors of sexual assault and outreach services so women and girls know where to go for help.

Your tax-deductible donation will provide support to all of the IRC’s programs in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities. And now, through our matching gift challenge, your gift will provide twice as much support to people in need wherever we work.

On behalf of the women and girls the IRC serves each and every day, I thank you for your ongoing commitment to our work.

Sincerely,

Heidi Lehmann
Director, Women’s Protection and Empowerment Unit

P.S. The IRC is proud to be among the world’s most effective and efficient humanitarian organizations. More than 90 cents of every dollar we spend is used to support IRC programs all over the world.