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2009 Annual Report	3.66 MB

Refugees International faced a number of challenges in 2009, but an organization’s strength is often most apparent in the face of adversity. RI was truly tested in our 30th anniversary year, as we battled a tough fundraising climate and cancer took the life of Ken Bacon, our leader and inspiration for eight years.

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Despite these hardships, RI raised more money than ever before, enabling us to continue and expand our work to improve the lives of displaced and stateless people. Thanks to Ken’s tremendous vision and generosity, RI launched the Ken and Darcy Bacon Center for the Study of Climate Displacement. The Center will work to establish strong policies for the tens of millions of people expected to be displaced by climate change in the coming decades.

RI shines a spotlight on the plight of people forced to flee their homes during crises, and we demand that governments and international agencies respond to their critical need for food, water, shelter and safety. Just weeks after the Pakistani government launched military operations against Taliban insurgents, RI advocates were there to witness the suffering of people uprooted by the government’s actions. Our subsequent meetings with leaders in Congress and the administration helped lead to U.S. support for millions of newly displaced Pakistanis.

Our team in Sudan observed rising tensions in the south and the fragility of the relative peace following 22 years of civil war. Highlighting this threat in the media and in meetings with top officials, RI helped persuade the Obama administration to revise its Sudan policy and prioritize implementation of the peace agreement. And because of our advocacy on Burma, Congress committed nearly $40 million in humanitarian funding to the troubled nation, an increase from only $3 million previously.

Refugees International demonstrated great fortitude in 2009. We also brought on a new president who is already leveraging years of public service, including eighteen years in Congress, to lead us forward. Together with our talented staff and committed individuals like you, we will build on our strength and determination to amplify our voice for the world’s most vulnerable. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
Farooq Kathwari
Chair

Dan Glickman
President