City of Philadelphia - File #: 160743

• File #: 160743
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 9/8/2016
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 9/15/2016
• Title: Urging the United States federal government to show leadership on the humanitarian crisis in Syria by resettling a greater number of Syrian refugees.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Gym, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Oh, Councilmember Domb, Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Parker, Councilmember Reynolds Brown

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
9/15/2016	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED	Pass	16:1
9/8/2016	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Ordered Placed On Next Week's Final Passage Calendar	Pass

Title
Urging the United States federal government to show leadership on the humanitarian crisis in Syria by resettling a greater number of Syrian refugees.

Body
WHEREAS, The Syrian conflict, which began in March, 2011, has produced one of the world's largest humanitarian crises in modern history; and

WHEREAS, The impact of the Syrian crisis is far-reaching, leaving nearly 13.5 million Syrians in need of assistance and 6.5 million displaced; and

WHEREAS, 4.5 million Syrians have fled to neighboring countries which now face overwhelming numbers of refugees, insufficient international support, and security concerns; and

WHEREAS, The United Nations has called for resettlement of over 400,000 refugees facing dire conditions including children without parents, victims of violence, and others who face imminent danger; and

WHEREAS, The United States has a venerable history of leadership in refugee resettlement, which flows from our nation's deeply-held commitment to freedom and multiculturalism; and

WHEREAS, The United Nations General Assembly is holding a summit to address the refugee and migrant crisis, driven by an unceasing and horrifying war that is tearing apart communities in Syria and destabilizing the broader region; and

WHEREAS, On September 20, 2016, President Obama will speak before the United Nations to urge other world leaders to admit more refugees into their countries and increase funding aid to areas impacted by the Syrian crisis; and

WHEREAS, To date, the United States has only supported two percent of the refugees needing resettlement; and

WHEREAS, President Obama has suggested that the United States increase the number of Syrian refugees admitted to this country, citing Philadelphia as one of the cities under consideration for welcoming these refugees; and

WHEREAS, Refugees in the program are all registered with the United Nations and cannot return to Syria because of a well-founded fear of persecution and will be ...