UN Secretary-General meets refugees in Italy


The UN Secretary-General expresses his “very heavy heart" after meeting with refugees in Rome.

Around 60 million people around the world have been displaced by conflict and insecurity.
Many have arrived recently in Europe.

More than half a million people have arrived in Europe so far this year, many making the treacherous journey in unseaworthy boats across the Mediterranean Sea.

Some 400,000 have landed in Greece and over 130,000 in Italy.

On Saturday, the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon met refugees at a centre in the Italian capital, Rome.

He spoke of his very heavy heart regarding the predicament of refugees fleeing conflict in the Middle East and Africa.

But he said he was uplifted by their personal stories.

He had this message for a group of children he met.

"Don't lose your hope, don't despair."

Mr Ban also urged world leaders once again to show global solidarity and compassionate leadership over the migrant issue.

Daniel Dickinson, United Nations