Photo: UNICEF/Tomislav Georgiev
NEW YORK – The head of the United Nations refugee agency today said he is “deeply worried” by the uncertainty facing thousands of refugees around the world who are in the process of being resettled to the United States after the country suspended its refugee programme last week.
According to a news release from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 800 refugees were set to make America their new home this week alone, but instead find themselves barred from travelling to the US.
The statement follows President Donald Trump’s signing last Friday of an Executive Order that, among things, suspends the US refugee programme for 120 days and, according to the media, bars entry of refugees from several mostly Muslim countries, including Syria, until further notice.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi underlined once again UNHCR’s position that refugees should receive equal treatment for protection and assistance, and opportunities for resettlement, regardless of their religion, nationality or race.
UNHCR estimates, based on average monthly figures for the last 15 years, that 20,000 refugees in precarious circumstances might have been resettled to the US during the 120 days covered by the Order.
“Refugees are anxious, confused and heartbroken at this suspension in what is already a lengthy process,” the release said.
“Those accepted for resettlement by the United States are, after a rigorous US security screening process, coming to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity. UNHCR hopes that they will be able to do so as soon as possible,” the release added.
Noting that for decades, the US has been a global leader in refugee protection, a tradition rooted in the tolerance and generosity of the American people, UNHCR expressed the hope that the country will continue its strong leadership role and its long history of protecting those who are fleeing conflict and persecution.
Meanwhile, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) issued a statement on child refugees that might be affected by the new US policy.
“The needs of refugees have never been greater. Worldwide 28 million children have been uprooted by conflict, driven from their homes by violence and terror. They need our help,” the statement said.
“The United States has a long and proud tradition of protecting children fleeing war and persecution. We trust that this support will continue and that the recent measures will prove to be temporary. All refugee children need our support.”
UNICEF said it is committed to continuing its work with governments and other partners around the world to help some of the most vulnerable children everywhere, from Syria to Yemen to South Sudan.
10 thoughts on “UN ‘alarmed’ by uncertainty facing refugees in the process of being resettled in US”
F the UN and let’s get to work by jailing the corrupt demorats that have used their political position to fatten their bamk accounts – PS the rats are digging themselves a big hole for the 2018 elections – people are coming to realize they are very corrupt and brilliant LIARS !.
Only the United States has open borders, no other country has open borders, all by design social engineering for the New World Order, “Order out of Chaos’ the sorcerers mantra, just more scripting and lies.
The tolerance and generosity of the American people, is coming to an end. Because we are the most generous country in the world, we are 20 trillion in debt. We will NEVER be able to pay off that debt, and it will only get worse when the refugee flood gates are opened. Don’t just think about yourself, think about your grandchildren and great grandchildren. They will never know this country as we know it. Third world here we come.
You know what Allen, I agreed with you on your comments on Steve King’s attempt to screw over the worker but I can’t agree with you here. This country today isn’t the same country my grandfather or my father lived in . And I would love for my grandchildren to live in the US my grandfather and father grew up in but it ain’t gonna happen. First, both men loved the outdoors and my grandfather served on several conservation related committee in the state of Iowa. He taught me how to hunt and how to appreciate the natural beauty in this state. Once the Republicans have their way, that environment will be totally gone and my grandchildren will grow up in a country that has little left in terms of the national parks and state owned public lands. Both men also taught me tolerance although in different ways. My grandfather was a racist, He disliked blacks and hispanics but still believed they had a place in this country (as long as they didn’t infringe on his ‘territory’ which was his neighborhood and his family.) . My father, on the other hand, was a staunch Republican, who welcomed diversity and felt that a person’s worth was revealed through his work ethic not his skin color or his religion or his politics. That country is gone too. Now we have a bunch of me first, whiney, it’s not fair people who think we should abandon our past and isolate ourselves from the world around us. They believe that money is symbolic of intelligence. They talk of our President as a great businessman who only cares about the poor and middle class of this country. Yet, he appoints people to help him run the country who have no idea of what struggle is or how to relate to the middle class. Not one of them could tell you what the cost of a gallon of milk is, how much insurance costs, or what it costs to send a kid to college. We are in trouble.
Thanks for your comment, but what did I say, that you don’t agree with. Everything that I said, I believe to be true, if the refugee gates are left open. John is correct, the refugees that are coming here now are not interested in assimilating with us. This great country was built on immigrants, but they wanted to come here to start a new life, and they did. They brought business sense, jobs and culture etc., of which we still use today. Most refugees trying to get in now, have none of those attributes. All they want is the freebies that America will give them, and give nothing back in return. This is the 21st century, what could these third world people have to offer, other than labor. We can’t even keep American citizens employed. I’m not against people coming into this country, legally, but what can they contribute to help keep this country great, besides sucking it dry.
Let them stay where they want to stay and set up safe zones in Syria as Trump has suggested. They really don’t want to be here, they want to be home. The thing about coming to the US has been to assimilate with our country but the people coming in now have no interest in that. They don’t want to learn our language, they insist we learn theirs. That is not what America is about.
No, they aren’t going to assimilate, and it’s actually much worse than that. Islam intends to dominate the world, and they have said so from day 1, 1400 years ago. Everyone with any doubts about this should simply do a very rudimentary search and read a little about Mohammed and his “teachings” He vowed to kill, convert or enslave everyone.
Screw the U.N. We should defund them and kick them out of the country.
Of all the nations in the UN, surely they can find another country to send the squatters to.
Yes, and I strongly suggest Saudi Arabia.