Summary of the Near East Relief
The Near East Relief (NER), originally named the American Committee for Relief in the Near East, was formed in response to the humanitarian crises caused by the Armenian Genocide during World War I. The organization was established in 1915 following a call to action by Henry Morgenthau Sr., who was the U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire at the time. Morgenthau appealed to the American public to assist the suffering populations of Armenians and other Christian minorities, including Greeks and Assyrians. His efforts, supported by influential figures and the general American public, led to the formation of this pioneering humanitarian relief organization, which played a crucial role in aiding the survivors of the genocide.