The above photo is a JRS worker in Romania who is present at the North Train Station in Bucharest assisting those who arrive from Ukraine (Photo: JRS Romania).

JRS are on the ground addressing the needs of internally displaced persons in Ukraine, as well as refugees in frontline neighbouring countries (Poland, Hungary, Romania and South East Europe). JRS Ireland are also active in welcoming and receiving Ukrainian refugees who seek protection and safety in Ireland.

Like others, JRS are providing shelter and safety in response to immediate needs, but JRS have a prepared plan for the medium to longer term emerging needs, including the provision of education. In all our Jesuit schools we know the value of education, and it gives confidence to know that by supporting JRS we are also supporting education for the children and families caught up in this crisis.

At the time of starting this campaign (March 6th 2022) 1.5 million refugees had fled Ukraine in search of safety and protection.

Update March 26th: There are now over 3.5 million people who have fled Ukraine in just 20 days. This is the largest forced displacement of people across borders since World War II.

In the Irish context already 1,350 Ukrainian refugees had arrived by March 6th 2022. It is expected in the weeks and months ahead that significantly more refugees will arrive, with high range estimates of up to 100,000+ refugees.

Update March 26th: There are now over 9,000 Ukrainian Refugees in Ireland.

Update March 29th: There are now 14,000 Ukrainian Refugees in Ireland, and it is expected that there will be 30,000 by end of April. This population will have significant accommodation and support needs on and after arrival. Already over 700 children have registered to attend Irish schools.

Update June 2nd from JRS:

I would like to express sincere gratitude on behalf of JRS Ireland to the staff, pupils, parents and wider school community of Belvedere College SJ for their recent fantastic and generous fundraising to support the work of JRS with refugees from Ukraine.

I would like to acknowledge the huge generosity of so many in donating more than €14,000 to the Belvedere College / JRS Campaign for Ukraine. All funds raised will be used to support the work of JRS helping individuals, children and families forcibly displaced by the conflict internally in Ukraine, delivering services and supports for Ukrainian refugees forced to cross borders into neighbouring countries and addressing the support needs of refugees from Ukraine arriving in Ireland.

JRS Ireland: Irish Response to Ukrainian Refugees

Ireland has welcomed more than 34,000 refugees from Ukraine to date. In the short term there is a significant task to secure the necessary resources and put in place appropriate language, education, employment, health and wellbeing supports for Ukrainian refugees due to the scale of the need arising from the trauma of the war and the forced displacement from their homes. In the context of a national housing crisis, finding more appropriate long-term accommodation for this population will be an enormous challenge.

JRS Ireland is working in partnership with a range of organisations, public, community and voluntary, to identify and to respond to the greatest needs emerging among the Ukrainian refugee population in Dublin and the Midwest (Limerick and Clare).

Huge work is being done across all agencies to ensure Ukrainian refugees can speedily access public services and welfare supports. Funds raised are being used to meet immediate material and health needs, to assist the development and delivery of appropriate wrap around services and supports and to meet gaps in provision to Ukrainian refugees in the many different locations across the country where they are being placed.

Amongst the emerging needs are securing translation and interpretation services, provision of transport from remote locations to access services, putting in place appropriate trauma supports and assisting vulnerable individuals and high need refugee families from Ukraine.

JRS in Europe: Response in Ukraine and Neighbouring Countries

JRS Europe is coordinating the response to needs arising in Ukraine and neighbouring first countries of refuge, through JRS national offices in Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Hungary and South East Europe.

In Ukraine, with 6.5 million internally displaced, Jesuits are hosting people in the Jesuit refugee house in Lviv. They are offering accommodation, food, and the chance to rest from the journey to families travelling forward.

In Romania, where almost 800,000 have sought refuge, JRS is supporting people arriving at reception centres along the border. Our teams are providing accommodation and vouchers, as well as educational opportunities for children and psychosocial support.

In Poland, who have received nearly 3.0 million refugees, JRS is providing basic supplies, and organising legal, administrative, and psychological support.

In Hungary, where 500,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived, JRS is providing food and medicines, as well as organising longer-term accommodation support.

JRS offices in South-east Europe are also organising to welcome and accommodate people fleeing Ukraine.

The JRS Europe Regional Office is monitoring the response of the European Union and advocating for fair welcome and protection of all people fleeing Ukraine.

Many thanks for the support from the whole Belvedere school community for their generosity and solidarity with the suffering people of Ukraine at this time.

Kind regards,

Eugene Quinn , National Director , JRS Ireland