Refugees International

Refugees International (RI) is a United States-based humanitarian advocacy organization focused on the needs and rights of refugees, internally displaced people, and other communities affected by forced displacement. Rather than operating primarily as an emergency-relief provider, it conducts research and field missions, documents gaps in humanitarian assistance and protection, and presses governments, international institutions, and aid agencies to respond more effectively. The organization was founded in 1979 by Sue Morton as a citizens' movement responding to the displacement of people from Indochina. During its first year, Morton was based in Tokyo and Singapore, while Dianne L. Lawson served as the founding director in Washington, D.C. Lawson incorporated the organization in the United States and helped organize its first major public actions. On July 19, 1979, Refugees International placed a full-page advertisement in The Washington Post calling on the U.S. executive and legislative branches to rescue Vietnamese and Cambodian people fleeing by sea. Morton and Lawson also joined a march from the Lincoln Memorial to the White House led by Senator Paul Simon and Joan Baez. The event coincided with President Jimmy Carter's announcement that the U.S. Seventh Fleet had been ordered to rescue refugees fleeing Southeast Asia. RI began as a volunteer-led movement and initially concentrated on the Indochinese refugee crisis. In 1990, it hired paid staff and broadened its geographic and substantive scope. Its subsequent work included advocacy concerning Liberian refugees in Guinea and displaced Kuwaitis in the Iraq-Jordan desert, as well as investigations of crises in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. The organization's operating model is based on field-based assessment and policy advocacy. Staff and experts travel to displacement-affected settings to examine access to food, water, housing, health care, education, documentation, livelihoods, and physical protection. They then issue reports and recommendations directed at policymakers, donors, United Nations agencies, and other humanitarian actors. RI also argues for the strategic and humanitarian value of U.S. foreign assistance. A defining institutional feature is its financial independence from governments and the United Nations. Refugees International does not accept government or UN funding, instead relying on donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. This funding policy is intended to allow the organization to criticize official responses and make recommendations without being financially dependent on the institutions it evaluates. The organization has been led by specialists in refugee policy, diplomacy, humanitarian response, and public affairs. Notable former presidents and leaders include Lionel Rosenblatt, Kenneth Bacon, Michel Gabaudan, Eric P. Schwartz, and Dan Glickman. Jeremy Konyndyk became president after serving in senior U.S. disaster-assistance and COVID-19 response roles. In its current work, RI has focused on displacement crises connected with Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan, and Syria. Its principal public identity is therefore that of an independent research, advocacy, and accountability organization rather than a conventional relief-supplies brand.

Refugees International emerged from the international response to the Indochinese refugee crisis. Sue Morton founded the organization in 1979 as a citizens' movement intended to protect people fleeing Vietnam and Cambodia. Morton spent the first year in Tokyo and Singapore, while Dianne L. Lawson established the organization's U.S. presence in Washington, D.C., incorporated it, and served as its founding director. The group's first public campaign sought emergency action for people attempting to escape Southeast Asia by boat. On July 19, 1979, Refugees International published a full-page advertisement in The Washington Post urging the U.S. executive and legislative branches to rescue Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees at sea. Morton and Lawson participated in a march from the Lincoln Memorial to the White House organized with Senator Paul Simon and Joan Baez. The action coincided with President Jimmy Carter's announcement that the U.S. Seventh Fleet would rescue refugees fleeing Southeast Asia. This episode established RI's early method: public mobilization combined with direct pressure on government decision-makers. In its early period, Refugees International was powered largely by volunteers. By 1990, it had hired paid staff and expanded its agenda beyond Southeast Asia. Its work then included advocacy concerning Liberian refugees in Guinea and displaced Kuwaitis in the Iraq-Jordan desert. Over time, the organization developed a broader field-research and policy-advocacy model addressing refugees, internally displaced people, and other populations affected by conflict and disaster. RI's field missions examine whether displaced people can obtain basic services and protection. Areas of concern include food, water, health care, housing, education, livelihoods, legal recognition, and protection from violence or exploitation. Findings from these missions are communicated through reports, briefings, and recommendations directed toward U.S. policymakers, donors, UN agencies, and other aid organizations. The group also promotes the humanitarian and strategic importance of U.S. foreign assistance. Financial independence has remained central to the organization's identity. Refugees International does not accept funding from governments or the United Nations. It instead raises support from individual donors, foundations, and corporations. This policy is designed to preserve institutional independence and permit criticism of official humanitarian responses. Leadership has included figures with backgrounds in government, diplomacy, humanitarian operations, journalism, and international refugee protection. Lionel Rosenblatt led the organization from 1990 to 2001 and later became president emeritus. Kenneth Bacon served as president from 2001 until his death in 2009. Dan Glickman held the presidency briefly in 2010, followed by Michel Gabaudan from 2010 to 2017 and Eric P. Schwartz from 2017 to 2022. Jeremy Konyndyk subsequently became president. The organization has also had prominent former board members, including George Soros, Richard Holbrooke, and Sam Waterston. In its contemporary work, Refugees International has addressed displacement crises in and around Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan, and Syria. Its evolution is from a volunteer citizens' campaign centered on one regional emergency into a professional, independent advocacy institution conducting international field research and policy engagement.

• 2022

  Jeremy Konyndyk becomes president

  [1]Refugees Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Jeremy Konyndyk takes over the presidency, bringing experience from USAID and U.S. disaster and pandemic response.

• 2017

  Eric P. Schwartz becomes president

  [1]Refugees Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Eric P. Schwartz begins a presidency that continues until February 2022.

• 2010

  Michel Gabaudan becomes president

  [1]Refugees Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  After a brief presidency by Dan Glickman, Michel Gabaudan leads RI from 2010 to 2017.

• 2001

  Kenneth Bacon becomes president

  [1]Refugees Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Kenneth Bacon begins leading the organization, a role he holds until his death in 2009.

• 1990

  Expansion beyond Southeast Asia

  [1]Refugees Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  RI hires paid staff and broadens its advocacy to additional displacement crises, including those affecting Liberians in Guinea and Kuwaitis in the Iraq-Jordan desert.

• 1979

  Refugees International is founded

  [1]Refugees Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  Sue Morton establishes Refugees International as a citizens' movement responding to the displacement of people from Indochina.

• 1979

  First major public action in the United States

  [1]Refugees Internationalen.wikipedia.org

  The organization publishes a Washington Post advertisement calling for U.S. action to rescue Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees at sea and participates in a march to the White House.

An independent, field-driven humanitarian advocacy organization that uses research and public-policy engagement to advance assistance, protection, rights, and solutions for displaced people.

• Research and assessment

  Field missions and humanitarian assessments

  RI conducts visits to displacement-affected settings to investigate access to food, water, health care, housing, education, documentation, and physical protection. These missions form the evidence base for the organization's public recommendations and engagement with policymakers and aid agencies.

• Advocacy and policy research

  Policy reports and briefings

  The organization translates field findings into reports, briefings, and policy recommendations concerning humanitarian assistance, human rights, refugee protection, internal displacement, and responses to conflict-related emergencies.

• Public-interest advocacy

  Public advocacy

  RI uses public communications and direct engagement with governments, donors, UN agencies, and other humanitarian institutions to press for lifesaving assistance, stronger protection, and practical solutions for displaced populations.

• 1979Indochinese refugee rescue advocacy

  United States · Vietnam · Cambodia

  RI's founding public campaign called for U.S. action to rescue Vietnamese and Cambodian people fleeing by sea. It combined a national newspaper advertisement, public demonstration, and direct pressure on U.S. political leaders.

  Outcome. The campaign coincided with President Jimmy Carter's announcement that the U.S. Seventh Fleet would rescue refugees fleeing Southeast Asia.

  Source

• 1990

  Broaden geographic and operational scopeStrategy

  Background

  After beginning as a volunteer movement focused on Indochinese refugees, RI expanded its work as displacement crises emerged in other regions.

  Action taken

  The organization hired paid staff and began advocating on crises including Liberian refugees in Guinea and displaced Kuwaitis in the Iraq-Jordan desert.

  Aftermath

  RI developed into a broader international field-research and humanitarian policy organization.

  Source

• Maintain independence from government and UN fundingStrategy

  Background

  The organization seeks to evaluate and criticize humanitarian responses without being financially dependent on the governments or UN institutions it engages.

  Action taken

  RI does not accept government or United Nations funding and instead relies on individuals, foundations, and corporations.

  Aftermath

  This policy remains a central part of RI's institutional positioning as an independent humanitarian advocacy organization.

  Source

1. 1Refugees Internationalen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Refugees International official websiterefugeesinternational.org