9 Jul 2021 The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Inside Syria, 6.5 million people are internally displaced and 13.5 million are in need of humanitarian assistance, with 4.5 million in hard-to-reach areas. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) first began assisting Syrians in 2012, responding to needs in both Northwest and Northeast Syria (NWS-NES). Our programs are coordinated by teams based in Syria, Turkey, Iraq, and Jordan providing support that is tailored to the needs of local communities in the fields of health, child protection, education, women’s protection and empowerment, food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, and livelihood.