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The Norwegian Refugee Council is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. We work in crises across more than 30 countries, where we help save lives and rebuild futures.

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Bangladesh|Myanmar |

International court orders protection of Rohingya people

Statement by the Norwegian Refugee Council, Secretary General Jan Egeland, on today’s International Court of Justice finding that Myanmar must take action to protect the Rohingya people.

Photo: Ingebjørg Kårstad/NRC
News
A royal visit from Crown Prince Haakon of Norway
A local vendor, selling small items, walking through the Kutupalong refugee camp in Bangladesh. The Rohingya are not allowed regular jobs in Bangladesh, so they have to find other ways to support themselves. (Photo: NORCAP/Ida Sem Fossvik)
Bangladesh |

Long-term solutions for the Rohingya response

Two years after the people of the Rohingya minority fled Myanmar, 900.000 refugees are trying to rebuild their lives in neighbouring Bangladesh. NORCAP experts support the humanitarian response and our projects target some of the most critical gaps in the assistance.

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Longreads

Inspiring thoughts Before even broached the subject of her story, Wendy spoke for a few minutes. In a particularly beautiful moment, she mentioned she would like to become a doctor to help people. Quite an impressive aspiration, considering her family past. The extent to which Wendy and her family were conditioned by the conflict is heart-breaking. She turned nine without a school opportunity. Some parents have nothing for their children as a result of forced displacement, and her mother – Diana - knows how hard it is to raise kids in conflict areas. But, how to become a doctor without access to education? Wendy´s family started from nothing. Her mother lost everything when she fled to save her live. “A shooting star passed around us and a man was killed. I used to leave in a dangerous area. In the past, while going for a walk, you could feel blood spattered on your clothes”, said Diana. They knew it was going to be difficult to start again. Indeed, Wendy and her three siblings had no opportunities to access to school. Nevertheless, Wendy's mom knew that education is a great privilege that can lead anywhere. She came to that conclusion because she never managed to study. Neither before her forced displacement nor after the displacement. A year ago, Wendy had the opportunity to access her first school, her eyes filled with the most uncontrollable happiness described the excitement of going to school. We could see that she finally has the life that she imagined as a young girl. “The school is beautiful, it has classrooms, a person who prepares food and teachers”, said Wendy. Wendy now lives in Tumaco, a corridor for drugs, weapons and, increasingly, unidentified armed people. Community leaders have been murdered and shootings and mortar fire became part of life in her neighbourhood; but she knows that education is key to change her life, and maybe the life of others too, if someday she becomes a doctor. Photo: Fernanda Pineda/NRC
Perspective
Colombia
I dream of becoming a doctor
Sorya Ahmed, 55, a grandmother from Ras Al Ayn. When Turkey announced their military operations in north east Syria she moved to different locations hoping that the situation would calm down, however things were escalating and the fighting was reaching them from one village to another. Eventually, Sorya and her family decided to leave Syria and seek refuge in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Sorya has been displaced three times during eight years of war but this time was more horrifying than any time before. “We saw people burning in front of us. We escaped running over their dead bodies, there were no safe routes to escape, and they did not secure a road for civilians to leave.” “We were 23 people; there were kids, women and young men with us. The smugglers were asking for a big amount of money. We did not have any money but we had my son's car, so we gave them the car instead of money.” “At the border, we walked for around six hours. We were so scared that ISIS or anyone else would attack us. All of these children were with us without water and food.” “On the way, we did not know who we are dealing with. Even men started to get scared because we no longer knew where we were going.” “There is nothing to go back to, they burnt my house, and in Ras Al Ayn the original people of the area have left (now is full of Arabs and people from other areas). Even if I eat soil here I would not go back to Syria.” Photo: Alan Ayoubi/NRC Date: 02 December 2019
Perspective
Syria
Anywhere but home
Hasibullah, 4, is Salma's brother. "He has only one Jacket and I washed that thinking it won't snow sometimes soon," says her mother. "No he has to wait until it gets dried." "I'm afraid he might get sick as he doesn't have any spare jacket and he doesn't stay at home. he gets out every now and then to play with his friends and enjoy the snow." ended her mother. Photo: Enayatullah Azad/NRC
Perspective
AFGHANISTAN
Kabul hit by cold and snow
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Opinions

Global |

A battle of values will determine the next decade of aid

The refugee camp in Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh, is built on sandy hills where there once used to be forests. The hilly landscape is a challenging area to house hundreds of thousands of refugees.
Bangladesh|Myanmar |

Myanmar’s Rohingya crisis is moving backwards. Here’s how to resolve it

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) distributed food (maize, lentils, oil and corn soya blend) to more than 7,100 people in Ngop. While Leer and Mayendit, both also in Unity state, have been recently declared in famine, Ngop is also in high risk. The food distribution is part of a Rapid Response Mission coordinated and funded by the World Food Programme (WFP) to mitigate this risk.
Netherlands |

New Dutch terror bill must not target aid workers

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NORCAP: Global provider of expertise

About NORCAP

NORCAP is a global provider of expertise to the humanitarian, development and peacebuilding sectors. We build partnerships with international organisations and national actors to protect lives, rights and livelihoods.

(Photo: Ingrid Prestetun/NRC)

Partners and donors

NORCAP works with partners on national, regional and international levels in order to contribute effectively to humanitarian operations. We provide expertise in various fields to support to a wide range of organisations and countries through the deployment of expert personnel.

Mohammed Arouki is seconded from NORCAP to support UN´s response to the crisis in Greece. Here he is distributing food to refugees who have just arrived in Chios together with Nicholas Panteloukas from NRC. Photo: Tiril Skarstein, NRC

Our expertise

NORCAP has a pool of more than 1,000 professionals recruited to meet the changing demands of a wide range of partners, situations and crises.

More than a number

Perspective
The hard life in displacement:
Young mothers in war-torn Yemen

Angela

Angela, 32, has six children to feed, but can now put food on the table, because of new water pumps that we've installed in her village.

Amo Stella

Amo Stella (22) is #morethananumber.

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Our activities in the field

Camp management
Education
Food security
Legal assistance (ICLA)
Shelter
Water and sanitation