MOSCOW (Sputnik), Alexander Mosesov — US plans to increase its quota for refugees from the Middle East are not significant, vice president of HIAS immigrant aid organization told Sputnik.
"An appropriate response to the Syrian refugee crisis that is meaningful and significant is for the US to accept 100,000 Syrian refugees next year, in addition to 100,000 to respond adequately to the increase in refugees around the world in recent years. The US must be a major part of a global response to save Syrian lives," Melanie Nezer said.
Earlier in the day, HIAS issued a press release where the group's CEO and President Mark Hetfield labelled the US plan "a nice symbolic gesture" and "a baby step in the right direction."
In recent months, hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria and other Middle Eastern countries have been pouring into Europe, seeking primarily to settle in the more prosperous EU member states.