MEDIA NOTE
U.S. Department of State
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington,
September 30, 2013
Deputy Secretary Bill Burns and Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees and Migration Anne C. Richard will visit Geneva, Switzerland, September 30 – October 1 to participate in the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) High-Level Segment on Syria on the occasion of the 64th annual UNHCR Executive Committee meeting.
The Syria High-Level Segment will bring together ministers from refugee hosting countries and donor governments to demonstrate international solidarity with countries hosting Syrian refugees. Participants will also discuss burden sharing to support the immediate and long-term assistance needs of refugees from Syria and their host communities. Deputy Secretary Burns and Assistant Secretary Richard will also meet with humanitarian agency heads to discuss efforts to advance the UN’s proposals to expand humanitarian access to those in desperate need of aid in Syria and to broaden assistance efforts beyond emergency relief to refugees and host communities in the region.
The United States applauds the generosity of the governments and people of Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq, and Egypt for hosting and assisting refugees from Syria, and recognizes the growing economic, political, and social strains facing these countries. As the top international donor to the Syria humanitarian response, the United States has contributed more than $1.3 billion to support the people of Syria and communities generously hosting those who have fled violence in Syria.