UNITED NATIONS, July 4 — The Syria refugee crisis is fast becoming the world’s largest displacement, Xinhua news agency reported. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric quoted the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) as saying there are close to three million Syrian refugees at present and the number of those seeking safe haven is increasing by 100,000 every month.
Failing to provide enough humanitarian support for Syrian refugees by the end of 2014 could result in dramatic consequences for refugees and stability of the
entire region, including a serious security threat to Lebanon.
The warning comes as UNHCR prepares to present an updated 2014 Syria Regional Response Plan in Geneva on Friday, calling on donors to fund a US$3.74-billion programme across Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt.
“For Iraq, the agency says the monthly refugee influx from Syria is lower than had been expected,” Dujarric said. “The UNHCR Iraq has revised its planning figures downward for refugee support for the remainder of this year,” he said. Some 250,000 Syrians are projected to seek humanitarian aid in Iraq at the end of 2014.
-BERNAMA
