The head of the United Nations refugee agency has urged other nations to help Jordan and Syria with the four million Iraqis who have fled their homes.
About two million Iraqis are seeking refuge in other countries in order to avoid the continued violence in Iraq since the U.S.-led 2003 invasion. Another two million are displaced within Iraq.
U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said Wednesday Jordan and Syria received many of the refugees, and the two nations are enduring pressures on their education and health infrastructures. Guterres added "it is not fair that the burden is not being shared effectively."
Guterres called for other nations like the U.S. to take in some of the Iraqi refugees.
Guterres has been on a week-long tour of the Middle East, trying to raise funds for the agency's $60 million Iraqi appeal. The U.N. issued the appeal last month.
The U.N. is planning to hold a conference regarding the Iraqi refugee crisis in Geneva in April.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
