UN refugee chief: Keep borders open for refugees

[June 20, 2011]  ROME (AP) -- The U.N. refugee chief is urging all countries to keep their borders open and offer protection to refugees fleeing violence since "new crises multiply and old crises never end."

U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres also called for a "new deal in burden- and responsibility-sharing" in the handling of refugees, saying wealthy countries should offer more support to countries in the developing world, which are bearing the brunt of refugee crises.

A report released Monday by the UNHCR said four-fifths of the world's 15.4 million refugees are hosted in poor countries.

Guterres spoke in Rome marking World Refugee Day and the 60th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, aimed at protecting civilians and prisoners in time of war.

[Associated Press]

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