United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has pledged to bring humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees, saying what he has seen at a refugee camp in a Kurdish region of Iraq is "heartbreaking."
Mr. Ban made the comments during a visit Tuesday to Kawrgosik Camp near Erbil, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, where the local government is hosting more than 200,000 refugees from Syria.
The U.N. chief said families shared with him their struggles to survive and find their loved ones. He said those families are now living in fear and uncertainty for their futures, and he said the international community should support those refugees until they are able to return to their homes.
Mr. Ban said he plans to convene a humanitarian assistance conference on Wednesday in Kuwait, ahead of next week's international peace conference in Geneva. He said the U.N. will try to mobilize all the necessary humanitarian assistance for the refugees -- including tents, water, sanitation, education, and supplies to cope with cold weather.
Mr. Ban has also been meeting with Iraqi leaders on the matter.
Mr. Ban made the comments during a visit Tuesday to Kawrgosik Camp near Erbil, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, where the local government is hosting more than 200,000 refugees from Syria.
The U.N. chief said families shared with him their struggles to survive and find their loved ones. He said those families are now living in fear and uncertainty for their futures, and he said the international community should support those refugees until they are able to return to their homes.
Mr. Ban said he plans to convene a humanitarian assistance conference on Wednesday in Kuwait, ahead of next week's international peace conference in Geneva. He said the U.N. will try to mobilize all the necessary humanitarian assistance for the refugees -- including tents, water, sanitation, education, and supplies to cope with cold weather.
Mr. Ban has also been meeting with Iraqi leaders on the matter.