The International Refugee Organization: A Specialized Agency of the United Nations: Its History and Work, 1946-1952

"This work presents the history of an international organization--the International Refugee Organization--which performed a great humanitarian service following the Second World War from 1947-1952. The needs with which the IRO dealt were economic, social, and political. The means it used drew partly on the experience of the two earlier organizations--UNRRA and IGCR--which dealt with the problems of displaced persons and refugees, but went beyond them to large-scale permanent settlement. In a relatively short period of time the IRO dealt with the urgent necessities of more than 1 1/2 million people, and in so doing relieved not only their human sufferings but also a threatening international situation. Two objectives have been present in writing this history: to provide a factual account of the work of the IRO for the general public, and to give enough documentary material and bibliographical references to make it a useful reference work for experts. Indication has also been given of where the specialized source material exists so that further detailed studies can be made." --preface.