Number of displaced people highest since World War II

ANKARA

A Syrian Kurdish woman crosses the border between Syria and Turkey at the southeastern town of Suruc in Şanlıurfa province on September 23, 2014. AFP Photo

About 51.2 million people have been displaced since World War II, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres said on Jan. 6, noting the current figures for displaced people are the highest they have ever been.

Speaking at the 7th Ambassadors Conference, Guterres was quoted as saying Turkey has a key role in hosting Syrian refugees and the country was referred to as a “power of humanitarian assistance.”

Applauding Turkey’s new legislation for protecting refugees, the law enables them to purchase a house and gives the right to education, the U.N. Commissioner noted.

Turkey, along with Pakistan, is the country that hosts the most refugees inside of its territory, he said. “Turkey is a responsible partner for the U.N.,” Guterres added.

He cited 13 million displaced people who fled from clashes in Syria and noted that 2 million of them are from Iraq.

The international community has lost its effectiveness on resolving and preventing crisis, this efficiency could only be regained with structurally multi-polarized and multi-dimensional strong international institutions, he noted.

Turkey is a significant support in the new structured multi-polarized world, Guterres said, noting Ankara would assume an important role in diminishing the number of refugees and prompt the international community to help.