UNHCR official praises Turkey on refugee efforts

By Kadir Karakus

ANKARA (AA) - The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)’s Turkey representative said Thursday that “political solutions” are needed to resolve the crisis.

Pascale Moreau, addressing the refugee rights subcommittee at the Turkish parliament in Ankara, said: “Until we have reached a political solution, all countries having refugees should be treated in solidarity and the burden should be shared fairly.”

In his remarks Moreau stated: "One in every 113 people is a refugee. It is a disaster for us. The UNHCR appreciates Turkey’s welcoming not only Syrian refugees but also [those] from other nations.”

“Turkey should review its national policies to remain active for a long time. It will contribute to a solution of the question globally if the countries having a large number of refugees … become more active,” he added.

Turkey, which now hosts the world’s largest refugee population, currently shelters some 1.9 million people, of which Syrians account for 62 percent according to a recent report from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) released on June 20.

*Anadolu Agency correspondent Ahmet Sait Akcay contributed to the report from Ankara