Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Head of UN Refugee Agency Voices Concern about New U.S. Rules

Head of UN Refugee Agency Voices Concern about New U.S. Rules

UNITED NATIONS - The UN high commissioner for refugees, Filippo Grandi, on Tuesday voiced his concern about the new U.S. rules, known as the Executive Order signed on Monday by U.S. President Donald Trump, stressing the need to protect people fleeing deadly violence.
"Following the signing of the new Executive Order on U.S. refugee resettlement, UNHCR (the UN refugee agency) has underscored that refugees are ordinary people forced to flee war, violence and persecution in their home countries and are in urgent need of life-saving assistance and protection," Farhan Haq, the deputy UN spokesman, quoting Grandi as saying at a daily news briefing.
Commenting on the Executive Order, Grandi said that "the imperative remains to provide protection for people fleeing deadly violence, and we are concerned that this decision, though temporary, may compound the anguish for those it affects."
"UNHCR says it is ready to engage constructively with the U.S. Administration to ensure all refugee programs meet the highest standards for safety and security," Haq said. 
The new executive order prevents nationals of six Muslim countries from entering the United States, excluding Iraq from the list of a previous ban.
The new document maintained a 90-day ban on nationals of Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya, Iran and Somalia from entering the United States, effective from March 16. (Xinhua)