International Refugee Organization

Related Category: United Nations

(IRO), temporary agency of the United Nations, established in 1946. In arranging for the care and the repatriation or resettlement of Europeans made homeless by World War II, the organization brought to a conclusion part of the work of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. IRO terminated its work in 1952, having resettled c.1,000,000 persons. It was superseded by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

See L. W. Holborn, The International Refugee Organization (1956).