UN Asks World for Help as Syrian Refugee Numbers Exceed 5 Million

Mohammad and Linda Jomaa al-Halabi, along with their five daughters, are among refugees resettled in the US. The country as a leader in refugee resettlement in the past, has taken only less than 1,000 Syrians.

Geneva, 03 Rajab 1438/31 March 2017 (MINA) – The number of Syrians who have fled the war in their country has risen above 5 million, in what is the world’s largest refugee crisis, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said Thursday in Geneva, SPA reported.

Countries outside the Middle East must take in more Syrians under long-term resettlement programmes, UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi said.

“We still have a long road to travel in expanding resettlement,” he said.

“To meet this challenge, we not only need additional places, but also need to accelerate the implementation of existing pledges.”

The UNHCR also urged countries to create additional legal options that would allow Syrians to enter their countries.

The UN body estimates that almost 1.2 million people will need resettlement in 2017, among whom 40 per cent are Syrians amid the biggest global crisis since the Second World War. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)