Davos, Switzerland - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced today in Davos, Switzerland, that the United States is seeking significant new international commitments to strengthen the international response to the global refugee crisis. This effort responds to the growing numbers and needs of refugee populations around the world, and reflects our sense of urgency about expanding the humanitarian safety net and creating more long-term, durable opportunities for refugees.

The United States will work with partners to advance the initiative over the coming months, culminating in a high-level event to be hosted by President Obama on the margins of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly. Event participants will be asked to make commitments in the following areas:

Broader and Deeper Commitment to Funding UN Humanitarian Appeals: In order to create a stronger and more sustainable funding base for UN humanitarian appeals, we are seeking commitments to regular contributions from at least 10 new nations. In tandem with that effort, we will seek at least a 30 percent increase in financing for global humanitarian appeals, from $10 billion in 2015 to $13 billion this year.

Expanded Resettlement and Other Legal Channels for Humanitarian Admissions: In order to create a brighter future for some of the world’s most vulnerable people, our goal is for nations with existing legal pathways for refugee admission to make commitments that double the global number of resettled refugees and those afforded other legal channels of admission, and for nations without such programs to establish them.

Facilitating Refugee Inclusion and Self-Reliance: In order to enable refugees to meet their own needs and contribute to communities that host them, the United States seeks commitments to increase the number of refugees worldwide in school by one million, and the number of refugees granted the legal right to work by one million. We believe that at least 10 nations must strengthen their refugee policies and practices to help reach these goals.

The United States will announce significant new commitments over the coming months and will strongly encourage other nations to do the same. The President’s Summit will convene those nations that have made significant new commitments toward achieving the Summit’s core goals throughout the course of 2016, encouraging the international community to do more than we have in the past.