Norwegian Refugee Council facts for kids
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| Founded | 1946 |
|---|---|
| Type | Humanitarian NGO |
| Location | |
| Fields | Humanitarian Aid, Activism |
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Secretary General
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Jan Egeland |
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Staff
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15,000 |
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a special organization that helps people who have been forced to leave their homes. This includes refugees and people who are displaced within their own country. They might have to leave because of fighting, violence, or even natural disasters like floods or droughts. NRC works to protect their rights and help them find safety.
Contents
History of the NRC
The Norwegian Refugee Council is an independent organization. This means it doesn't belong to any government or political group. It also doesn't have any religious connections. NRC is the only organization from Norway that focuses on helping people who are displaced all over the world.
NRC has about 16,500 staff members and helpers. They work in 40 different countries across Africa, Asia, South America, Europe, and the Middle East. The main office for NRC is in Oslo, Norway. They also have offices in other big cities like Brussels and Geneva.
The organization started in 1946. Back then, it was called "Europahjelpen," which means "Aid to Europe." It was created to help people who became refugees after World War II. In 1953, the name changed to the Norwegian Refugee Council. Today, NRC is a private foundation.
NRC's main goal is to give humanitarian aid when an emergency happens. This could be during a conflict or after a natural disaster. They help people right away and also work to find long-term solutions. They want to make sure displaced people can rebuild their lives.
Jan Egeland became the Secretary General of NRC in August 2013. He is the main leader of the organization.
What NRC Does to Help
NRC focuses on several important activities to help people in need:
- Shelter: They build emergency shelters, houses, and schools. They also help set up other important buildings for communities.
- Food Security: NRC gives out food and other important items like blankets or cooking supplies. This helps families get what they need to survive.
- Information, Counselling, and Legal Assistance (ICLA): This program helps people understand their rights. They give advice on things like housing, land, and important papers. They also help people who don't have a country to call home.
- Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene: NRC makes sure people have clean drinking water. They also help set up toilets and ways to manage waste. This keeps people healthy.
- Education: They create education programs especially for children and teenagers. This helps young people continue learning even when they are displaced.
- Camp Management: NRC helps organize services in refugee camps. They make sure people in the camps get the help they need.
Special NRC Groups
NRC has two special groups that help with their work:
Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC)
In 1998, NRC started the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) in Geneva. This group helps countries around the world better assist people who are displaced inside their own country. IDMC also collects information and creates reports about internal displacement. The United Nations uses their information.
NORCAP
NORCAP is a special team of experts. NRC manages this team, and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs helps pay for it. NORCAP has 650 experts from different parts of the world. Since 1991, these experts have gone on more than 7,000 missions worldwide to help people in emergencies.
Awards and Recognition
NRC has received important awards for its work:
Nansen Refugee Award
The Nansen Refugee Award is a big international award. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) gives it out every year. It honors a person or group who has done amazing work for people who have been forced to leave their homes. Since 2009, NRC has helped UNHCR organize this award ceremony. The award includes a special medal and a $100,000 prize. The governments of Norway and Switzerland donate the money.
Hilton Humanitarian Prize
In 2022, the Norwegian Refugee Council received the Hilton Humanitarian Prize. This is the world's largest yearly humanitarian award. It comes with a value of $2.5 million. The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation gives out this prize.
See also
In Spanish: Consejo Noruego para Refugiados para niños
