FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 30, 2016
PRESS CONTACT
Henrike Dessaules
hdessaules@refugeerights.org
646.459.3081
IRAP COMMENDS U.S. RESETTLEMENT OF 10K SYRIAN REFUGEES AND URGES FURTHER COMMITMENTS
FISHER: “IRAP is thrilled to see the United States follow through in its commitment to provide a safe haven to 10,000 Syrian refugees who have fled from violence. At the same time, IRAP expects to see the United States increase its efforts to protect refugees in the next fiscal year.”
New York, NY, AUGUST 30, 2016 – On Monday, August 29, 2016, National Security Advisory Susan Rice announced the resettlement of the 10,000th Syrian refugee in the United States this fiscal year. This milestone represents the target set last year by the Obama administration, which will be surpassed before the end of the fiscal year.
The International Refugee Assistance Project at the Urban Justice Center (IRAP) commends the successful resettlement of 10,000 refugees from the war-torn country, but warns that the number amounts to merely 0.2 percent of all Syrian refugees in need of resettlement. IRAP therefore urges the U.S. government to continue its efforts to expand U.S. refugee protection.
Betsy Fisher, IRAP’s Policy Director, remarked: “IRAP is thrilled to see the United States follow through in its commitment to provide a safe haven to 10,000 Syrian refugees who have fled from violence. At the same time, IRAP expects to see the United States increase its efforts to protect refugees in the next fiscal year.”
The United States has a proud tradition of leading the world in the number of refugees resettled each year. It is therefore crucial for the United States to also demonstrate leadership in the global response to the Syrian refugee crisis, the largest humanitarian crisis of our generation. A substantial increase in the resettlement of Syrian refugees shows solidarity with the main host countries, including Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan, and encourages other resettlement countries to do the same.
To view the full press release as a PDF, click here: IRAP Press Release U.S. Resettlement of 10K Syrian Refugees
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