Q&A: How HIAS Protects Refugees and Displaced People

Protection is at the heart of our mission at HIAS. But what does “protection” really mean, and why is it vital for people facing conflict, displacement, or disaster?  

Below, Neetu Mahil, HIAS’ lead for programmatic design and impact, answers the most common questions about our protection work.

What does protection work entail?

At its core, protection is about ensuring safety, dignity, and human rights, and providing practical help when people are most at risk—especially when governments or systems fail to keep them safe—all while upholding international law and humanitarian principles.

In humanitarian settings, protection work prevents and responds to violence, coercion, and deprivation during conflict, displacement, or crisis. Simply put, it means helping people stay safe from violence, abuse, and hardship in emergencies.

This involves tangible support such as finding safe shelter, connecting families to legal aid, providing counseling for trauma, advocating for basic rights, and protecting children and vulnerable adults, especially women, from harm. At HIAS, protection means providing services that address the full range of needs people may face during displacement.

Through case management, our staff work one-on-one with individuals and families to assess their unique situations, develop a plan, connect them with vital resources like healthcare and housing, and guide them through each step. HIAS also offers rapid crisis intervention, ensuring that support is tailored and accessible for those most at risk.

For example, when a family flees conflict with almost nothing, HIAS helps them find safe housing, access medical care, and enroll their children in local schools. That’s protection in action.

How does HIAS provide protection services around the world?

HIAS works to protect refugees and displaced people around the world: 

• In Kenya, HIAS protects refugees through legal help, child protection, violence prevention, and safe housing for those facing acute risks. HIAS Kenya also runs empowerment programs for women and other marginalized refugees and engages men and boys as allies to reduce violence and support changed community attitudes. 
• In Ecuador, HIAS provides legal support and runs child friendly spaces for children who have fled violence. Programs in cities like Esmeraldas offer unaccompanied minors and children at high risk a safe place to learn, play, and get help. 
• In the United States, HIAS empowers refugees and asylum seekers as they rebuild their lives and navigate complex systems. Protection means ensuring families have access to safe housing and food security during resettlement. HIAS provides trauma-informed interventions through our resettlement partners such as women’s empowerment, child well-being, youth integration activities, and violence prevention and response strategies that help families heal and thrive together. 

These efforts ensure that protection is not just about immediate safety, but also long-term stability, dignity, and integration. 

Which groups of displaced people most need protection?

While protection is rooted in advancing access to fundamental rights and needs, those with the highest risks and vulnerabilities typically include: 

• People who are forced to flee their home due to conflict or natural disasters, especially those without permanent solutions for safety, dignity, and support systems. 
• Women, girls, or other marginalized individuals, who may face discrimination, harm, or violence due to unequal power dynamics. 
• Adolescents and youth dealing with isolation, trauma, exploitation, or harm. 
• Elderly individuals facing difficulty accessing basic goods and services, such as food or healthcare. 
• Persons with disabilities who face barriers accessing or understanding information about their rights. 
• Individuals with identity characteristics who may be discriminated against or persecuted.   
• Financially stressed families or caregivers struggling to cope with limited systems of support. 
• In the U.S. context, newly arrived refugees—notably women, youth, trauma-survivors, and other minority groups—with limited resources. 

Because every crisis—and every person—faces unique risks and challenges, HIAS assesses the needs of each person we serve to ensure they receive tailored protection services.

What challenges does HIAS face in providing protection to displaced people?

Right now, organizations like HIAS face massive headwinds: 

• Escalating crises and donor focus on immediate relief have caused a widening gap in humanitarian funding, sidelining investment in lasting solutions and forcing more communities into chronic dependence on emergency aid. 
• Safety risks are more complicated, as countries in crisis have more restrictions and are less capable of supporting vulnerable groups, such as survivors of sex-based and interpersonal violence, exploitation, or trafficking of displaced individuals. 
• Effective protection relies on trained staff with expertise in evidence-based solutions and strong community partnerships, which can be hard to maintain when funds are strained. 
• Stress and trauma affect both people seeking help and humanitarian staff, which can result in higher rates of burnout and reduced efficacy in service delivery. 
• Stigma, fear, past trauma, or a lack of rights awareness can prevent people from asking for help. 
• Rural and remote areas often remain underserved. 
• Difficulties in sustaining support for people in ongoing protracted crises, especially when emergencies overlap and attention shifts.

How Is HIAS still delivering protection services despite cuts to humanitarian aid?

Despite these challenges, HIAS is committed to protection by: 

• Prioritizing vital services like legal assistance, case management, and community outreach. 
• Partnering with women and refugee-led groups to support local leadership and bolstering community-based protection systems. 
• Using flexible approaches, like mobile teams and group support, to stay effective with fewer resources. 
• Seeking support from donors and the private sector to maintain key programs. 
• Streamlining operations and focusing on inclusion, rights, and advocacy every day. 

No matter the crisis or funding situation, HIAS works to keep protection accessible for those who need it most, helping families, individuals, and communities find safety, support, and hope.