US to increase refugee admission to 100,000 in 2017

The United States will take in more refugees worldwide in the next two years, US Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday, September 20. This will include 10,000 Syrian asylum-seekers in 2016. In the fiscal year ending September 2015, the world’s biggest economy took in 70,000 refugees. This number will go up to 85,000 in 2016 and 100,000 in 2017 according to Kerry.  Kerry made the announcement as he conferred with German officials on the wave of migrants that has swamped Europe and met with Syrian refugees who are seeking asylum in Europe. Meantime, the Philippine government said it must first assess its ability to accept Syrian refugees before making any commitment to the United Nations. Responding to the call of the head of the UN refugee agency in the Philippines to admit Syrian refugees, who are torn between enduring a bloody civil war in their country or risking drowning to reach Europe, Palace Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said that the Philippines will adhere to its international commitments to protect refugees but did not give a categorical answer on whether or not Manila will admit those from Syria. Coloma reiterated that the government’s resources are focused on rehabilitation efforts following a spate of disasters including Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Read about Kerry’s announcement

More on Kerry’s statement regarding refugees on New York Times and Washington Post

Read about the Philippine government’s statement on the refugee crisis