UNHCR expresses concern over US decision on refugees

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed concerns over the decision of the United States (US) government to limit the number of refugees that are allowed to enter the US.

The new administration of Donald Trump has issued an Executive Order limiting the number of refugees that would be allowed into the US to 50,000. The decision was a reversal of an earlier one banning refugees from entering the US and included a ban on citizens of seven Muslim countries – Iran, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Sudan and Somalia and Iraq. Iraq was however removed from the revised Order.

In a press release issued immediately following the Order, the UNHCR said it underscores that refugees are ordinary people forced to flee war, violence and persecution in their home countries and who remain in urgent need of life-saving assistance and protection.

“The imperative remains to provide protection for people fleeing deadly violence, and we are concerned that this decision, though temporary, may compound the anguish for those it affects,” Filippo Grandi said, adding that “UNHCR has long been a partner for the United States in finding solutions to refugee problems, and we look forward to continuing this partnership.”

The UN refugee agency reiterated its readiness to engage constructively with the US government to ensure all refugee programmes meet the highest standards for safety and security.

By Emmanuel K Dogbevi