The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an International Catholic organization with a mission to accompany, serve, and advocate on behalf of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons. JRS undertakes services at national and regional levels with the support of an international office in Rome. Founded in November 1980 as a work of the Society of Jesus, JRS was officially registered on 19 March 2000 in the Vatican City as a foundation.
JRS programmes are found in 58 countries worldwide, providing assistance to refugees in camps and cities, individuals displaced within their own countries, asylum seekers in cities and to those held in detention centres. The main areas of work are in the field of education, emergency assistance, healthcare, livelihood activities and social services. At the end of 2022, more than 1 513 125 individuals benefited from JRS projects around the world. JRS has been serving internally displaced persons and refugees in Iraq since October 2014. In 2023, thirteen people work in the CO and JRS Iraq runs programmes mostly in Qaraqosh, Sharya and Sinuni for an approximate total of 150 staff members.
