UN expects US refugee ban is temporary

UN expects US refugee ban is temporary

New York (Online): The United Nations spokesman said that UN hopes President Donald Trump´s decision to ban refugees is a temporary action and that they will again be given protection.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, "We hope that the measures concerning the suspension of refugee flows are temporary as refugee protection needs have never been greater."

Trump signed an executive order on Friday to suspend the US refugee resettlement program for 120 days.

Earlier, all visa applications from seven Muslim countries -- Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen - were put on hold for at least 90 days following the ban on these Muslim countries by US President Trump.

The UN refugee agency UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration said in a joint statement that they hoped the United States "will continue its strong leadership role and long tradition of protecting those who are fleeing conflict and persecution."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday, discrimination against migrants and refugees along with the stereotyping of Muslims were leading to more extreme hatred in the world.

Guterres told the General Assembly, "A ´new normal´ of public discourse is taking hold, in which prejudice is given a free pass and the door is opened to even more extreme hatred."