UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on all countries Wednesday to accept nearly half a million Syrian refugees for resettlement over the next three years. 
The UN chief, kicking off a ministerial conference hosted by the UN refugee agency UNHCR in Geneva, said: "This demands an exponential increase in global solidarity". 
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) convened a meeting of more than 90 countries at the Swiss UN seat, aiming to win new pledges for resettlement, family reunification programs, as well as work and study visas. 
These programs are separate from usual asylum procedures. They are aimed especially at vulnerable groups including women, children and people with medical needs. 
Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq and North African countries have been shouldering the task of hosting most of the Syrians who have fled the war in their country. 
The 4.8 million Syrian war refugees in these countries have put serious strains on state budgets and public services. 
"Communities hosting refugees in neighboring countries are exhausted," Ban said. 
Ban said countries should not demonize refugees but should see the opportunities that the people could bring to their new host countries. 
"Today, they are refugees. Tomorrow, they can be students and professors, scientists and researchers, workers and caregivers," he said.

ٍSource: QNA