For many refugees, Greece has been a gateway to the rest of Europe. Between 2015 and 2016 more than one million refugees arrived in Greece. Since that time, there have been a number of restrictions and rules put into place that have stopped refugees from traveling from Greece to other European nations or even make it to Greece at all. However, many refugees remain in Greece. Currently there are more than 60,000 refugees living in Greece, including about 14,000 living on camps on the Greek islands.
Greece has been challenged to respond to the needs of refugees during its own economic crisis. The country has failed to provide adequate services to refugees, asylum applications are backlogged, and refugee camps on the Greek islands lack basic necessities.
JRS Greece (JRS Hellas) was founded in November 2015 in response to the influx of refugees arriving to the country at that time. JRS Greece focuses on four main activities: emergency support, integration, education, and advocacy.