Obama plans to host high-level refugee summit in 2016 at UN
UNITED NATIONS — The United States says President Barack Obama plans to host a high-level summit on the global refugee crisis during next year’s gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly.
US Ambassador Samantha Power told reporters Monday that “this year has shown with painful clarity that our existing systems, approaches and funding are inadequate” to address the global crisis.
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The United Nations says some 60 million people have been forced to flee their homes in recent years, the highest level since World War II.
Power says the Obama-hosted summit, which likely will be held in September, is part of efforts by the US and partners to “secure new commitments” and sustained support for UN humanitarian appeals.
The ambassador says many of those appeals are less than 50 percent funded.
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