UN Chief Hails EU Refugee Funds, Yet More Needs to be Done

Ban Ki-moon “welcomes the decision of the European Council to inject much needed funds, worth some one billion euros, into the UN humanitarian response in countries dealing with the Syrian refugee crisis,” read a statement issued by Ban’s spokesman on Thursday. Describing the EU’s move as “a step in the right direction,” Ban, however, stressed that the bloc must still do more on the issue.

He noted that the EU must also further mobilize efforts “to resolve the crises and conflicts that cause people to flee, including in Syria.” Ban also urged the EU to adopt measures “to ensure dignified and humane reception” of the asylum seekers, saying the 28-nation bloc can fight the rising threat of human smugglers only through “increasing legal and safe pathways into Europe.”

"Europe and countries beyond must make available many more relocation places to provide the many refugees who are in camps or living under temporary arrangements with a viable long term solution, when safe return is not possible," he underscored.

Earlier in the day, European Council President Donald Tusk announced that the EU leaders agreed to provide the UN refugee agency and the World Food Program with one billion euros in a bid to address the worsening refugee crisis.

The bloc also aims to increase its financial support for Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon, which host some four million Syrian refugees fleeing the deadly conflict in the Arab country, Tusk added.