Syria 'on brink of abyss,' refugees flee country
The United Nations on Tuesday urged countries neighboring Syria to keep their borders open to help Syrians flee their country.
In an emailed statement, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said Syria may be "on the edge of an abyss. This war has resulted in a humanitarian calamity without parallel in recent history. When a war sweeps up a nation, there can be nothing more important to its people than open borders.
Guterres sent the message from Baghdad, Iraq, where he is helping Erthain Cousin of the World Food Program and others coordinate efforts for Syrian refugees.
About 200,000 Syrians have fled in Iraq in recent months, Guterres said.
Now is the time for the global community to come together to ensure the violence ends and the healing begins, Cousin said. The children of Syria are depending on us not just to meet their needs today but to provide hope for a better tomorrow.
Iraq was singled out for praise by the UN officials for making way for the refugees, in spite of having a displaced population of 1.1 million within its own borders.
On Tuesday, the government of Iraq announced an additional donation of $10 million to the United Nations Human Rights Commission to help refugees.
"In Iraq, food assistance is provided to refugees primarily through a voucher a food delivery mechanism that allows refugees to purchase groceries in local shops and help stimulate the host countrys economy," Cousin said.
A WFP voucher gives refugees the ability to access the food available, support the local economy and makes them feel more welcome by the local community.
Other nations bordering Syria are Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel.
The United Nations on Tuesday urged countries neighboring Syria to keep their borders open to help Syrians flee their country.
In an emailed statement, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said Syria may be "on the edge of an abyss. This war has resulted in a humanitarian calamity without parallel in recent history. When a war sweeps up a nation, there can be nothing more important to its people than open borders.
Guterres sent the message from Baghdad, Iraq, where he is helping Erthain Cousin of the World Food Program and others coordinate efforts for Syrian refugees.
About 200,000 Syrians have fled in Iraq in recent months, Guterres said.
Now is the time for the global community to come together to ensure the violence ends and the healing begins, Cousin said. The children of Syria are depending on us not just to meet their needs today but to provide hope for a better tomorrow.
Iraq was singled out for praise by the UN officials for making way for the refugees, in spite of having a displaced population of 1.1 million within its own borders.
On Tuesday, the government of Iraq announced an additional donation of $10 million to the United Nations Human Rights Commission to help refugees.
"In Iraq, food assistance is provided to refugees primarily through a voucher a food delivery mechanism that allows refugees to purchase groceries in local shops and help stimulate the host countrys economy," Cousin said.
A WFP voucher gives refugees the ability to access the food available, support the local economy and makes them feel more welcome by the local community.
Other nations bordering Syria are Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel.
