Syria war: UN urges leaders to accept more refugees

Ban Ki-moon says governments must "act with solidarity" to alleviate Syria refugee crisis and "counter fear-mongering".

Many refugees have died while fleeing to European countries on rickety boats

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on governments around the world to allow in more Syrian refugees and "counter fear-mongering" about them.

At a conference in Geneva on Wednesday, Ban urged countries to "act with solidarity, in the name of our shared humanity, by pledging new and additional pathways for the admission of Syrian refugees".

He said they can do so through "resettlement or humanitarian admission, family reunions, as well as labour or study opportunities".


The UN refugee agency UNHCR convened a meeting of more than 90 countries at the Swiss UN seat in Geneva, aiming to win new pledges for resettlement and family reunification programmes, as well as study visas.

"We are here to address the biggest refugee and displacement crisis of our time," Ban said.