GENEVA, December 16, 2025 (WAFA) – UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for increased support for refugee-hosting countries, particularly low- and middle-income countries, which "host nearly three-quarters of the world's refugees."

This came in a video message from Guterres, presented during the second meeting of high-level officials to review progress at the Global Refugee Forum, which began Monday in Geneva, Switzerland, and continues until Wednesday. The forum is a joint initiative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Swiss government.

He noted that "the first Global Compact on Migration, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2018, remains a roadmap for moving forward."

Guterres added, "We must promote the integration and self-reliance of refugees as a dignified means of unleashing their human potential."

He stressed the need to support local economies and reduce dependence on aid, while also ensuring the safe return of people to their homes, as one million Syrians did last year.

K.T