Pope Francis has called on world leaders to do more to help refugees and migrants, in an attempt to put pressure on politicians to improve what he called the “lamentable” situation facing people fleeing conflict.

His intervention came as the Vatican published a detailed policy document outlining how states should approach the refugee crisis. It calls for migrants and refugees to be given more support at every stage of their journey, including in the countries they eventually arrive in, and proposes creating humanitarian corridors for people trying to escape war.

States must also do more to help refugees into work and education, Pope Francis said, as he called on wealthier nations to support developing countries that are bearing the brunt of the refugee crisis.

The UN estimates that 56 per cent of the world’s displaced people are in Africa and the Middle East – often in countries that lack the infrastructure and resources to cope with a growing population. Only 17 per cent of migrants and refugees are currently in Europe.

Read the source article at The Independent