UN: World took too long to act

High commissioner says earlier recognition, coupled with foreign aid, could have averted refugee tragedy

The United Nations High Commissioner for refugees said on Saturday the world waited far too long to respond to the refugee crisis sparked by the wars in Syria and elsewhere, though rich countries now appear to understand the scale of the problem.

"Unfortunately, only when the poor enter the halls of the rich do the rich notice that the poor exist," UN refugee chief Antonio Guterres said on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly.