International Humantitarian Organizations

Whoever says that the world is the real hell surely hasn't heard of any humanitarian organization. There are no angels in hell but these organizations prove that no matter how unfair life can get, life is still worth living and fighting for. These angels are bound by a common goal and fueled by their desire to help others. There are countless humanitarian organizations all over the world. What is more impressive is that this kind of movement transcends national boundaries --- international humanitarian organizations.

International humanitarian organizations are groups dedicated to distributing aid. These organizations may exist within government, between governments or completely independent from the government. They have helped and continue helping victims of abuses, crimes wars, accidents and natural disasters. Here are three of the largest international humanitarian organizations in the world.

International Rescue Committee

The IRC (International Rescue Committee) is a non-sectarian international humanitarian aid and relief organization based in the United States. It was established in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein himself to assist Adolf Hitler's opponents. Since then, the organization has been helping and rescuing people fleeing religious, ethnic and racial persecution, as well as those uprooted by violence and war. With offices in 25 countries, the IRC provides emergency response , youth protection programs, health care, and water and sanitation systems. They also build schools, train teachers and support good-governance inituatives.

Oxfam International

A confederation of 13 organizations, Oxfam International works with more than 3,000 partners in over 100 countries in order to find lasting solutions to injustice and poverty. The group leads, supports and facilitates collaboration between their affiliates to heighten their impact on injustice and poverty through development programs, advocacy campaigns and emergency response.

CARE

One of the leading international humanitarian organizations in the world, CARE has programs in almost 70 countries. The organization is composed of over 12,000 individuals, most of whom hail from the nation where they work. Founded in 1945 as Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe, the name was changed to Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere to suit the new goals of the group. Since its conception, CARE has been providing emergency relief during and after tragedies. However, the group now focuses on addressing causes of poverty and empowering women. They also advocates for laws and policies that promote poverty alleviation and defend human rights.

Aside from these three, there are many other international humanitarian organizations that are willing to lend a helping hand in times of distress. These include ActionAid, Mercy Corps, CAFOD, Global AIDS Alliance and Red Cross.