UN seeks to help millions Iraqi refugees

Source: CCTV.com | 04-18-2007 13:44

The Conference on Iraqi Refugees held by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) opens in Geneva April 17, 2007. The two-day conference focus on the plight of displaced Iraqis in both Iraq and neighboring countries. (Xinhua Photo/Yang Jingde)

The UN has urged Iraq's neighbors and the international community to share the heavy burden of helping Iraqi refugees.

The appeal was made at the opening of a two-day UN conference in Geneva, which is focusing on the plight of some 4 million Iraqi refugees, half of whom are being hosted by neighboring countries.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres addressed the conference, saying the humanitarian crisis in Iraq can no longer be ignored.

Antonio Guterres said, "The dramatic needs of the Iraqis and the challenges faced by host countries need an urgent and meaningful expression of solidarity by the international community That should include financial, economic and technical support, but also expanded resettlement opportunities for the most vulnerable."

The two-day conference was convened by the UN Refugee Agency and is being participated by more than 450 government and aid officials from 60 countries.

Among them are senior officials from Iraq, the US and European countries. Of the 4 million refugees, half have fled to Syria and Jordan, but nearly 2 million remain displaced within Iraq.

Editor:Du Xiaodan