António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, has come to New York for the United Nations General Assembly for the last several years — but before now, getting the refugee crisis on the agenda has been difficult.  "This year, you can't imagine — everyone wants to discuss refugees," he said Sunday at Mashable's sixth-annual Social Good Summit.  Guterres said the reason is very simple: For the first time, refugees are coming in massive numbers into the developed world, specifically Europe, and as a result, "it became an issue everywhere."  During the panel, Guterres mentioned recent efforts to address the problem in the United States. Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced that the country would accept 85,000 refugees in 2016, and increase the number to 100,000 in 2017. (On Monday, the U.S. announced higher numbers — 100,000 each year over the next two years.) Many of them will be Syrians, more than 4 million of whom are displaced around the world.  200,000 refugees is a small percentage of those displaced globally, but certainly an improvement from the United States' previous commitment to take in only 10,000 Syrian refugees.  "I think it will be very important for the civil society to put as much pressure as possible to allow for that to happen," Guterres said. "But what we are seeing right now in Europe, of course, has a lot of impact because Europe is a rich part of the world. But let's not forget that 86% of refugees are in the developing world. And let's not forget that we are witnessing the staggering escalation of a dramatic problem in the world."  In 2010, there were 11,000 people displaced by conflict per day, Guterres said. Last year, there were 42,500 per day. Conflicts are spreading, and old conflicts are not being solved.  "The international community is largely failing them," he said. "Humanitarian aid has decreased in 2015. Countries that are hosting [refugees] are under tremendous pressure without enough support, and resettlement opportunities into the developed world are still very limited. It's time to show true solidarity with the people who are suffering so much."  Guterres calls on the global community for three main things: increased humanitarian aid to refugees themselves; economic and structural support for host countries, especially Lebanon and Jordan, where massive percentages of the populations are refugees; and more resettlement opportunities in the developed world.  He stressed that refugees have important contributions and skills for society — they are willing to work hard in order to be integrated into society. He pointed to his fellow panelist, the actor, model and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Ger Duany, as an example. Duany was a child soldier, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, and fled to United States as a teenager in 1994.  "Refugees are part of humanity. We can't leave them behind" - @GerDuany #2030Now pic.twitter.com/Uv9Y3xR79x  — Melissa Fleming (@melissarfleming) September 27, 2015  Duany spoke about how much U.S. resettlement programs help.  "As a former political refugee, I was given an opportunity to reconstruct myself as a person, and come into this country when I was all 15 and 16 years old," he said. "I know what it's like to lose everything that you ever know, your way of life ... Refugees are part of humanity. We can't leave them behind."  The panel also discussed the xenophobia many people in certain countries, like those in Europe and the U.S., experience. Guterres argued that an efficient way to dilute those fears is for governments to have adequate policies for the integration of refugees.  "If [the number of refugees] were properly distributed, properly managed — if the European Union and the States would assume their responsibilities, you wouldn't have these horrible scenes that you see on television, of people running from one border to the other, trying to get to Germany or to Sweden."  He urged to stop the propaganda, and tell the truth that Europe "could not live without migrants or refugees."  "[We need] the capacity to show that we can see diversity is a richness, not a problem," he said, "that we understand our societies as being inevitably multiethnic, multicultural, multi-religious, and that is good for our societies."  Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.  The Social Good Summit is a two-day conference examining the impact of technology and new media on social good initiatives around the world. Held during U.N. Week on Sept. 27 and 28, the Social Good Summit unites a dynamic community of global leaders and grassroots activists to discuss solutions for the greatest challenges of our time.  This year's summit is brought to you by Mashable, the United Nations Foundation, the UNDP and the 92nd Street Y. For complete event details, visit here.
U.N. High Commissioner on Refugees Antonio Guterres urged the global community to take responsibility during the refugee crisis, and to fight xenophobia.