AlHijjah 8, 1436, Sep 22, 2015, SPA -- All countries must contribute to solving the global refugee crisis, the president of the U.N. General Assembly said Monday, emphasizing that the international community has a clear obligation to the women, men, and children seeking refuge from conflict and violence. "The world has not seen a global humanitarian crisis of this magnitude since the Second World War, and with winter approaching in the northern hemisphere, it is only going to get worse," Mogens Lykketoft warned during his first formal news conference since taking office last week. "The tragic stories and heartbreaking images we are seeing in the media are only the tip of the iceberg-the manifestation of much bigger issues which only multilateral cooperation and global leadership can solve," Lykketoft said. "This is a global crisis. And it requires a global solution." Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who has invited member countries to a special meeting on September 30 in New York City to discuss the refugee crisis, also expressed concern about the deteriorating situation facing migrants arriving in Europe. The U.N. chief "calls on all European states to ensure that they abide by their international obligations, including the right to seek asylum," his office said. "All persons must be received with dignity and their human rights must be respected."
