Obama To Host Refugee Summit

Photo: EPA

Obama to host refugee summit in 2016 - President Obama will host a global summit on the refugee crisis during next September's meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, officials say.

In announcing the summit, Obama U.N. ambassador Samantha Power said the meeting of world leaders will be designed to secure commitments on actions to help resettle record numbers of refugees from war-torn countries.

The September summit "will follow 9 month effort by US & partners to mobilize new commitments for resettlement, schooling & support," Power said in a tweet.

From the Associated Press:

"The United Nations says some 60 million people have been forced to flee their homes in recent years, the highest level since World War II.

"Power says the Obama-hosted summit, which likely will be held in September, is part of efforts by the U.S. and partners to 'secure new commitments' and sustained support for U.N. humanitarian appeals. The ambassador says many of those appeals are less than 50 percent funded."