Because Love Just Ain't Enough: International Refugee Organizations

“...There's a reason why people don't stay where they are.Baby, sometimes, love just ain't enough....”

That's how singers Patty Smyth and Don Henley see why people don't stay where they are. That's a romantic way of looking at the movement of people. But hey, in the not-so-romantic real world, people can't stay at one place not just because of the lack of love but something more serious and relevant --- social injustice.

Here are a few international refugee organizations who understand this heartbreaking fact and take action by providing protection and shelter to people who are on the run from violence and injustice.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees was established in 1950 to protect and support refugees at the request of the UN or a government. They assist the refugees in their resettlement or their return and resolve refugee problems around the world. Its main goal is to safeguard the rights of refugees and ensures that all of them can exercise the right to seek asylum and a safe refuge in another country. The organization has helped many people worldwide and has been helping refugees in Lebanon, Sudan, Darfur, Afghanistan and Iraq.

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

The International Organization for Migration for Migration (IOM) was established in 1951 to help resettle those who were displaced by World War I. Today, the group is dedicated to promoting orderly and humane migration by providing advice and services to migrants and governments. They also promote international cooperation as regards to migration issues and help in the search for possible solutions to migration problems. They also offer humanitarian aid to migrants in need.

Refugees International

Based in Washington D.C., Refugees International (RI) aims to be a witness to the hardships and suffering of the displaced. This requires them to interview and meet with war-affected populations, aid agencies and other NGOs. They have conducted missions in more than 30 countries including Cambodia, West Africa, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Colomboa, Uganda, Burma and Haiti.

People move, or are forced to move, because of the danger and hardship they encounter at one place. Movement is inevitable sometimes. War and discrimination are real social concerns that propel the movement of people. Thus, real solutions are needed, which are provided by many international refugee organizations. Yes, love just ain't enough; assistance is.