Dushanbe, 30.03.2016. (NIAT “Khovar”). — Way to solve the problem of Syrians who had to leave their homes amid the armed conflict that has raged on for five years now will be discussed by participants in a high-level international conference in Geneva on Wednesday. One of its key tasks is to discuss the opportunities for the resettlement of refugees who have found temporary shelter in the neighboring countries.
The forum will be attended by representatives of 92 countries, 6 international and 24 non-governmental organizations, as well as 14 UN agencies. The Russian delegation is headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov. The participation of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon indicates the importance attached by the UN to the problem of Syrian refugees. He will sum up the interim results of the discussion at a press briefing on Wednesday together with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.
A source in the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has told TASS that Wednesday’s conference is one of the key events of 2016 in terms of supporting the Syrians who are in need of humanitarian aid. This concerns 13.5 million people inside Syria and 4.8 people in neighboring countries. The participants in the forum will also discuss the support of the countries in the region carrying a heavy burden of accepting refugees. The Geneva meeting was preceded by the February forum in London, which focused on the financial side of the problem. The next in the series of events to address the issue will be the summit due to take place in New York in September during the session of the UN General Assembly.