Obama Urged to Accept More Syrian Refugees Into US - Human Rights Group

The United States must open its doors to many more refugees fleeing the Islamic State and the civil war in Syria, the advocacy group Human Rights First said in a press release on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — In the past year, the US government accepted 70,000 refugees from throughout the world.

"The United States should lead by example and sharply increase its commitment to resettle more Syrian refugees," Human Rights First stated in the release.

President Barack Obama has announced a 2016 target of resettling 85,000 refugees, including 10,000 from Syria, with a further 110,000 coming in 2017, the release noted.

"This initiative should include an effort to meet the United Nations humanitarian appeal for Syrian refugees, a commitment to significantly increase US resettlement of Syrian refugees, and actions to protect the rights of refugees to cross borders," Human Rights First added.

Since the beginning of the Syrian civil war in 2011, four million people have fled the country, according to UN estimates.

A woman walks inside the Moria camp for migrants and refugees on the northeastern Greek island of Lesbos, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015

© AP Photo / Santi Palacios