UN seeks greater refugee support from Canada amid ‘enormous’ global needs
Global News
The United Nations is bracing for a further increase in the number of refugees this year, as last month's earthquake in Turkey and Syria adds to a series of crises.
The United Nations is bracing for a further increase in the number of refugees this year, as last month’s earthquake in Turkey and Syria adds to a series of crises that has the world looking to Canada for more help.
“The need around the world is enormous,” said Kelly Clements, the UN’s deputy high commissioner for refugees, on a visit to Canada this week.
“It’s the beginning of what we anticipate will be another very difficult year.”
Clements was touring the Middle East last month when the massive earthquake struck, and she headed for the large Syrian city of Aleppo in the immediate aftermath.
She said the shaking woke up UNHCR staff in the early hours of Feb. 6, and they ran into the streets in their bedclothes, standing in the damp snow.
“Despite some of our colleagues losing their houses, having damaged property, worried about loved ones and so on, everybody was back at the office that day,” she said.
“You can see apartment buildings where you could slice a knife through and see household effects, people’s clothes, mirrors on the wall, dressers, etc.”
The Syrian civil war has been underway since 2011 and Clements said parts of Aleppo have sat in ruins for half that time as the “frozen conflict” restored relative peace to that part of the country.