Carson: Absorb Syrian refugees in Mideast

Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson has visited a camp for Syrian refugees and suggested they should be absorbed by neighbouring Middle Eastern countries.

Ben Carson

More than 4 million Syrians have fled war since 2011. Most were given temporary shelter in neighbouring countries, but overwhelmed hosts nations balk at long-term integration.


President Barack Obama has said the US will take in 10 000 refugees, a fraction of the hundreds of thousands who reached Europe this year. Some GOP candidates said they fear terrorists could sneak into the US among them.

Carson last week likened blocking potential terrorists posing as refugees to handling "mad dogs."
Carson said in a statement after Saturday's visit to the Azraq camp in Jordan that Syrians could help enhance the economies of Arab states "that accept and integrate them".