Resolving the refugee crisis

As the refugee crisis, caused mainly by Syria's civil war and conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, continues, governments across the world need to realize that only concerted global efforts can resolve it.

At the United Nations Summit for Refugees and Migrants on Monday, world leaders approved a declaration aimed at responding to the needs of refugees worldwide in a more coordinated and humane manner. But Western countries, especially the United States that is largely responsible for the war and conflicts, need to take the lead in addressing the refugee crisis, because their policies and actions in those regions are squarely to blame for the exigency.

Syria's civil war, for instance, has forced more than 4.8 million people to seek shelter in neighboring countries and regions, especially Europe, and it seems the violence will continue as the weeklong Russia-US brokered truce ends on Monday.