Syrians are about to replace Afghans as the world’s largest refugee population, fleeing a conflict where barrel bombs leave bodies in pieces and a generation of children is physically and emotionally scarred, top U.N. officials said on February 25. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the U.N. General Assembly that the world body would do everything to implement a U.N. Security Council resolution – adopted on February 22 to boost humanitarian aid access – and get help to millions in need.
Some 9.3 million Syrians – almost half the population – need help, the United Nations said. Some 2.4 million of those people have fled the country during the three-year civil war. “Five years ago Syria was the world’s second-largest refugee hosting country. Syrians are now about to replace Afghans as the present biggest refugee population worldwide,” U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said.