"Refugees International expresses deep sadness at the loss of Richard C. Holbrooke. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family.

"As the President’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan since 2009, Richard was trying to bring stability to a region fraught with problems that seemed more insurmountable as time went by. But Richard was not adverse to complex challenges and horrendous hurdles. In 1995, using a combination of sheer will, true grit and negotiating savvy, he brokered the Dayton Peace Accords – the hallmark of his work as one of our country’s top diplomats. Richard was relentless in pursuit of peace and did not go quietly into any debate, earning the names 'Raging Bull' and 'the Bulldozer' for his tireless and determined ways.

"Richard Holbrooke was also much more than that. A 'Superman' to so many of us and in so many ways, Richard was a legend in the humanitarian community. He served as chairman of Refugees International from 1996 to 1999, transforming our small advocacy organization focused historically on Indochinese refugees into a global voice for refugees wherever they are and for the millions more who are internally displaced. Richard always argued that internally displaced people should have the same rights as refugees under the Geneva Convention and he never gave up on this point. He also looked for ways to curtail HIV/AIDS epidemics and to prevent any repeat of the horrific genocides in Rwanda and Darfur.

"Richard was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize seven times with good reason. He also received many honorary degrees and exceptional awards. In fact, in 2006 Refugees International honored Richard with our McCall-Pierpaoli Humanitarian Award.  Emila Brkic, a refugee from Bosnia, introduced him saying, 'I cannot think of peace in my country without thinking of one man – Richard Holbrooke. Without his energy, determination and his commitment, we might never have reached the Dayton Peace Accords. For all Bosnians, he is a hero.'  For others, he was Superman."

Eileen Shields-West is the Chair of the Board of Directors of Refugees International, a Washington, DC-based organization that advocates to end refugee crises and receives no government or UN funding.

More information can be found from former Refugees International President Lionel Rosenblatt's blog post, "Richard Holbrooke: The Displaced and Dispossessed Have Lost a Lion", at http://www.refugeesinternational.org/blog/richard-holbrooke-displaced-and-dispossessed-have-lost-lion.

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For Immediate Release: December 14, 2010
Contact: Refugees International, Megan Fowler
P: 202-828-0110 x214
megan@refugeesinternational.org