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), also known as Flyktninghjelpen in Norwegian, is a special group that helps people forced to leave their homes. This includes refugees and people displaced within their own country. They might have fled because of fighting, violence, or even natural disasters like floods. NRC works to protect their rights and help them rebuild their lives.
Contents
What is the Norwegian Refugee Council?
The NRC is a humanitarian organization. This means they focus on helping people in need. They are not connected to any political party or religion. NRC is the only group from Norway that specializes in helping displaced people around the world. They offer aid, protection, and long-term solutions.
NRC has about 16,500 staff members and helpers. They work in 40 countries across Africa, Asia, South America, Europe, and the Middle East. Their main office is in Oslo, Norway. They also have smaller offices in cities like Brussels, Geneva, and Washington, D.C..
A Brief History of NRC
The Norwegian Refugee Council started in 1946. Back then, it was called "Europahjelpen," which means "Aid to Europe." Its first job was to help refugees in Europe after World War II.
In 1953, the organization changed its name to the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). Today, NRC is an independent group.
NRC's main goal is to provide help right after a conflict or natural disaster. They offer emergency aid and help people recover. They also work to make people stronger and find lasting solutions for those who have been displaced.
Jan Egeland became the Secretary General of NRC in August 2013. He is the main leader of the organization.
How NRC Helps People
NRC has several important ways they help people who have been forced to leave their homes:
Shelter and Homes
- They build emergency shelters, houses, and schools.
- They also help set up other important public buildings.
Food and Earning a Living
- NRC provides food to stop people from going hungry.
- They help local food markets and systems get back on track.
- They also help people learn ways to earn money and support their families.
Information and Legal Help
- NRC gives people information and advice.
- They help displaced people understand their rights.
- They assist with housing, land, and property rights.
- They also help with important papers and citizenship issues.
Clean Water and Toilets
- They make sure people have access to clean water.
- They also build proper toilets and promote good hygiene.
Education for Children and Teens
- NRC runs education programs.
- These programs are for children and young people.
Staying Safe from Violence
- They work to protect displaced people and communities.
- They try to prevent violence and respond when it happens.
- They help make sure people's rights are not taken away.
Special NRC Groups
NRC has two special groups that help with their work:
Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC)
- In 1998, NRC started the IDMC in Geneva.
- This group helps countries around the world assist people who are displaced within their own country.
- IDMC also collects facts and figures about internal displacement.
NORCAP
- NORCAP is a team of experts ready to help.
- It is run by NRC and gets money from the Norwegian government.
- NORCAP has 650 experts from different parts of the world.
- Since 1991, these experts have gone on over 7,000 missions worldwide to help.
Awards and Recognition
NRC has received important awards for its work:
Nansen Refugee Award
- The Nansen Refugee Award is a special international award.
- It is given every year by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
- The award honors a person or group for outstanding work helping displaced people.
- Since 2009, NRC has worked with UNHCR to organize this award ceremony.
- The award includes a medal and a US$100,000 prize. This money is given by the governments of Norway and Switzerland.
Hilton Humanitarian Prize
- In 2022, the Norwegian Refugee Council received the Hilton Humanitarian Prize.
- This is the world's largest yearly humanitarian award.
- It is worth US$2.5 million.
A Difficult Incident in 2012
In July 2012, a group from the Norwegian Refugee Council was traveling near a camp in Dadaab. Their vehicles were attacked. Sadly, a driver was killed, and four international staff members were taken. One of the staff members was Steve Dennis.
NRC stated that they had checked the area and believed it was safe to travel. A local police commander mentioned that a security escort had been offered to the group, but they did not take it. This was a very challenging time for the organization and its staff.
See also
In Spanish: Consejo Noruego para Refugiados para niños
