Global refugee crisis a shared duty of int'l community: Maleeha
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At the United Nations, Pakistan says the unprecedented large-scale displacement of people warrants a greater commitment by the global community to address the crisis. Speaking in a debate on refugees, returnees and displaced persons at the General Assembly's Third Committee, Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN Maleeha Lodhi said number of displaced persons has surpassed 25.4 million, half of whom are under the age of 18.
Ambassador Lodhi pointed out that while low and middle-income countries continue to bear the heaviest burden of hosting 85 percent of refugees globally, some developed countries are moving in the opposite direction.
Pakistani envoy stressed global refugee crisis was a shared duty of the international community there is an urgent need for equitable burden and responsibility sharing.
Reminding the international community about Pakistan's unparalleled generosity of hosting millions of Afghan refugees for almost four decades, Ambassador Lodhi said we opened both our homes and hearts to what has now become the largest protracted refugee presence anywhere in the world since the Second World War.
Ambassador Lodhi concluded by saying that addressing the refugee crisis necessitated a comprehensive approach.
