JRS programmes are found in over 50 countries, providing assistance to refugees in camps, to people displaced within their own country, to asylum seekers in cities and those held in detention.

The main areas of work are Education, Advocacy, Emergency Assistance, Health and Nutrition, Income Generating Activities and Social Services. It is estimated that more than 450,000 individuals are direct beneficiaries of JRS projects worldwide.

JRS is concerned that refugee protection standards have been eroded in many parts of the world. JRS International has co-ordinated the efforts of JRS national offices to take action through lobbying, submission of policy papers, education, media work, and collaboration with other organisations.

In Europe, JRS works in 27 countries.

Our activities include:

• visiting asylum seekers in detention
• giving legal advice to asylum seekers and irregular migrants
• counselling those traumatised by persecution and flight
• serving as chaplains in open reception or accommodation centres as well as in closed facilities or premises (detention)
• providing food and shelter to destitute migrants.

'The spiritual as well as the material needs of nearly 16 million refugees throughout the world today could scarcely be greater'.

- Fr Pedro Arrupe, in his letter which established the Jesuit Refugee Service