A refugee is defined as a person who has been forced to leave their country for political or religious reasons, or due to the threat of war or violence. At the end of 2014, there were 19.5 million refugees worldwide, including 14.4 million under the mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), approximately 2.9 million more than in 2013 The remaining 5.1 million Palestinian refugees are registered with the United Nations Relief Fund. and Public Works (UNRWA). With so many people displaced, it is difficult to find countries willing to take in all the refugees. There are currently over 125 different countries hosting refugees, and with this commitment comes the responsibility to ensure that these refugees have access to the basic needs of life; a place to live, food to eat and some form of employment or access to education. Currently, the main cause of refugees is the Syrian civil war, which has resulted in the displacement of more than 2.1 million people. As a relatively wealthy country, the United States should be able to provide shelter for many refugees, as well as provide refugees with financial support that they are unable to receive. Neighboring countries of Syria, such as Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq. welcomed the vast majority of Syrian refugees. In some countries, such as Lebanon, Syrian refugees represent more than a quarter of the population. This causes extreme economic pressure on a country and can significantly increase the level of poverty observed there. As refugees continue to flee civil war at home, neighboring countries are struggling to cope with the influx of new people into their countries. Camps of displaced people hoping to enter and obtain refugee status in neighboring countries have been visible since...... middle of document....... January 20, 2014. "Europe is failing on Syrian refugees ." Global problems. Np, September 12, 2014. Web. September 10, 2015. “Refugee Facts and Figures.” The United Nations Refugee Agency. UNHCR. Internet. September 10, 2015. “More and more desperate. » The economist. January 22, 2014: b. page. Internet. September 10, 2015. “UN forum participants agree to step up support for countries hosting Syrian refugees. » “Syrian refugees create pressure in Jordanian cities.” CBC News. Np, September 17, 2013. Web. September 10, 2015. “Syrian refugees in Lebanon still suffer. » The economist. Np, October 30, 2014. Web. January 20 “Refugees”. New York Times September 5, 2013, n. page. Print. “Welcoming Syrian refugees is good for Nova Scotia. » Chronicle Herald [Halifax] June 20, 2014, n.pag. Print “What is a refugee?” » United States for UNHCR. No. Internet. December 10, 2013. January 2014. Nations News Center. Np, October 1, 2014. Web. September 10 2015.