United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Antonio Guterres gives a press conference following the United Nations conference on Iraqi refugees at the UN Office in Geneva. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

    GENEVA, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations wrapped up Wednesday a two-day conference on the plight of Iraqi refugees with a confirmed international obligation to help the country's displaced and share the burden of hosting countries.

    "All delegations recognized the international community's obligation to protect and assist Iraqis in need and help host countries to shoulder their burden," said U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres, chairman of the conference.

    "I hope that in the near future these commitments will be translated into financial support for displaced Iraqis and host countries and an increase in resettlement opportunities for the most vulnerable," he said.

    Guterres expressed hope that the conference would be "an effective first step in the framework of a coordinated, comprehensive international effort" to provide help to the Iraqis.

    The UNHCR says up to 50,000 Iraqis are now fleeing the violence in their country every month. Already there are 2 million Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries, particularly Syria and Jordan. There are another 1.9 million Iraqis displaced within Iraq.

    Speaking to reporters after the conference, Guterres also praised an initiative by the Iraqi government to help its displaced citizens, saying it "was a major step forward and a crucial development in the conference."

    Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari announced during the conference that his government would launch a program, worth 25 million U.S. dollars in the first phase, to assist displaced Iraqis.

    This would include establishing offices in host countries such as Syria and Jordan to assist Iraqi refugees in health and education, and providing documents to enable access to services and travel.

    "The (Iraqi) government is prepared and fully committed to taking the lead in addressing the needs and improving the conditions of all Iraqi people who are internally and externally displaced," Guterres said.

    The two-day conference was attended by more than 450 delegates from 60 nations and international organizations, with the aim of underlining the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Iraq and the region, and seeking more international help.

    Guterres stressed, however, that any final solution to the Iraqi refugee crisis should be a political one that means the restoration of security and the creation of conditions for the voluntary and dignified return of all Iraqi refugees.