International Refugee Organization

International Refugee Organization (IRO), or Organisation Internationale por les Réfugiés (OIR) was created to deal with the European refugee problem following World War II. It was founded in 1946, taking over from the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration and became a United Nation agency in 1948.

Based in Switzerland, it wa granted franking privileges and used overprinted Swiss stamps.  File:Switz Refug 10c.jpg|1950 10c technology File:Switz ref 1fr pfyffer.jpg|1950 1fr Pfyffer 
 * In 1950, various Swiss definitives up to the 2fr value were overprinted ORGANISATION / INTERNATIONALE / POUR / LES RÉFUGIÉS.
 * The IRO ended operations in 1952. Its duties were taken over by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

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