DAMASCUS, Syria, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees praised the efforts of Syria for providing basic humanitarian needs to Iraqi refugees.
Antonio Guterres met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad following a similar visit with Jordanian officials in early February.
Guterres made pledges to Syrian officials that the UNHCR would continue to work with the Syrian government to help provide basic needs for Iraqi refuges in Syria, the Syrian news agency SANA said.
The international community needs to work with countries hosting Iraqi refugees, Guterres said, because the burden placed on the country's infrastructure is taxing its humanitarian capabilities.
Guterres earlier praised Jordan for its support of Iraqi refugees. Voices of Iraq said the Jordanian interior minister announced Thursday it would cancel fines on Iraqis wanting to return home. They would need visas if they wanted to come back to Jordan, however.
