Turning to Haiti, the outgoing Chief expressed regret and sorrow at the outbreak of cholera and the profound suffering of Haitians affected, and informed President Obama of the package of material assistance being developed for those most directly affected and said he hoped he could count on the support of the US.
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Ban released years of pent up anger at leaders and countries who have contributed to suffering and conflict across the globe.
The commitments announced Tuesday fell far short of what aid groups say is needed to address the crisis. Millions of Palestinian refugees are registered with the United Nations.
“After World War II, numerous refugees at that time were living in camps for a certain amount of time, then would be resettled or helped to be repatriated” in their home country, Jill Marie told Catholic News Service.
The key driver of the modern crisis has been Syria’s long-running civil war, though large numbers have also fled instability in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Countries participating in the summit are expected to announce individual pledges that are in line with a U.S. goal of increasing humanitarian aid by $3 billion, doubling resettlement and providing access to jobs and education, said Samantha Power, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Nine million people alone have been displaced by the six-year conflict in Syria while more than four million others have fled the war-torn country.
“It is an ugly lie that must be rejected in all our countries”, Obama said.
Obama’s plea comes as a record 65million people around the world were displaced from their homes a year ago, but no coherent plan among world leaders is in place to resettle the millions of refugees. China said it was pledging $300 million, while the United Kingdom said it would resettle 20,000 and provide nearly $2 billion in aid – a roughly 10 per cent bump.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon used his farewell address to the General Assembly on Tuesday to urge world leaders to end the war in Syria and bring the Paris climate deal into force this year. He said “in too many places, we see leaders rewriting constitutions, manipulating elections and taking other desperate steps to cling to power”. In total, the companies have committed to investing, donating, or raising more than 650 million U.S. dollars.
President Obama made an impassioned plea as he spoke during the Leaders Summit on Refugees at the United Nations headquarters.
“I want to suggest to you today that we must go forward and not backward”, he added.
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In addition the US leader took aim at Russian Federation for its interference in Ukraine and at North Korea for its defiance of the global community on the nuclear front. This is part of their overall mission.
