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| More Nations Pledge to U.N. to Resettle Syrian Refugees | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| GENEVA — The United Nations refugee agency said Tuesday that the number of Syrian refugees accepted for resettlement in third countries would more than double as a result of commitments given by governments at a “pledging conference” in Geneva. The agency’s tally, however, still fell well short of its own target and even further behind its estimate of those who need resettlement. | GENEVA — The United Nations refugee agency said Tuesday that the number of Syrian refugees accepted for resettlement in third countries would more than double as a result of commitments given by governments at a “pledging conference” in Geneva. The agency’s tally, however, still fell well short of its own target and even further behind its estimate of those who need resettlement. |
| António Guterres, the United Nations high commissioner for refugees, said after the meeting that he was “very happy” with the outcome of the conference in which 28 countries made firm commitments to accept 66,254 Syrian refugees and 11 other countries said they were exploring options or preparing to expand existing programs. That brings the refugee agency’s estimate of the total number of resettlement places being offered to more than 100,000. | António Guterres, the United Nations high commissioner for refugees, said after the meeting that he was “very happy” with the outcome of the conference in which 28 countries made firm commitments to accept 66,254 Syrian refugees and 11 other countries said they were exploring options or preparing to expand existing programs. That brings the refugee agency’s estimate of the total number of resettlement places being offered to more than 100,000. |
| Mr. Guterres said countries so far had offered only 40,000 places for Syrians this year, adding, “we are confident we have clearly more than doubled” the number of resettlement places available. | Mr. Guterres said countries so far had offered only 40,000 places for Syrians this year, adding, “we are confident we have clearly more than doubled” the number of resettlement places available. |
| The commitments, however, do little to ease the strain on countries neighboring Syria that are providing refuge to 3.2 million people registered as refugees with the United Nations and hundreds of thousands more who have not registered, putting pressure on hospitals, schools, housing, water resources and jobs. | The commitments, however, do little to ease the strain on countries neighboring Syria that are providing refuge to 3.2 million people registered as refugees with the United Nations and hundreds of thousands more who have not registered, putting pressure on hospitals, schools, housing, water resources and jobs. |
| In Jordan, which says that about 1.4 million Syrians are living within its borders, people “are beginning to voice frustration,” the country’s interior minister, Hussein Majali, told the conference. | In Jordan, which says that about 1.4 million Syrians are living within its borders, people “are beginning to voice frustration,” the country’s interior minister, Hussein Majali, told the conference. |
| Frustration also appears to be growing among the refugees themselves. The total number accepted for resettlement since the start of the conflict in 2011 is just under 191,000, and in the past six months there has been a sharp increase in the number of Syrians risking dangerous journeys by boat across the Mediterranean in attempts to reach Europe. | Frustration also appears to be growing among the refugees themselves. The total number accepted for resettlement since the start of the conflict in 2011 is just under 191,000, and in the past six months there has been a sharp increase in the number of Syrians risking dangerous journeys by boat across the Mediterranean in attempts to reach Europe. |
| The refugee agency has called on countries to accept 130,000 Syrians in 2015 and 2016, and Mr. Guterres said that more than 300,000 Syrians had to be resettled for health or other reasons. Some of them are ill or have experienced trauma in the conflict. Others cannot return in safety to Syria, even when the civil war ends. | The refugee agency has called on countries to accept 130,000 Syrians in 2015 and 2016, and Mr. Guterres said that more than 300,000 Syrians had to be resettled for health or other reasons. Some of them are ill or have experienced trauma in the conflict. Others cannot return in safety to Syria, even when the civil war ends. |
| The commitments made in the conference Tuesday represented “an excellent interim result,” Mr. Guterres added, but he emphasized that they were the beginning, not the end, of the process. | The commitments made in the conference Tuesday represented “an excellent interim result,” Mr. Guterres added, but he emphasized that they were the beginning, not the end, of the process. |
| The United States and Canada have taken in around 5,350 Syrian refugees, but Assistant Secretary of State Anne C. Richard told the gathering that America was considering around 9,000 resettlement applications and receiving around 1,000 new cases a month. | The United States and Canada have taken in around 5,350 Syrian refugees, but Assistant Secretary of State Anne C. Richard told the gathering that America was considering around 9,000 resettlement applications and receiving around 1,000 new cases a month. |