'Pay to play' summit shows support for refugees: world leaders, now pay your pledges

Oxfam welcomes President Obama's Leaders' Summit, which saw more than 50 countries pledge a combined $4.5 billion in financial assistance to groups helping refugees find work and education. 

Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of Oxfam International, said: "Oxfam welcomes the support shown for the world’s refugees at President Obama's Leaders' Summit today - but a transparent accountability mechanism is needed urgently, to ensure the pledges made by world leaders are followed by concrete actions.

"Assistance is needed for both refugees and the communities that host them. The funding of humanitarian appeals must happen alongside robust resettlement programs and expansion of other routes to protection such as family reunion. Additionally, refugees must be given the right to access the labor market and for their children to receive an education. 

"What world leaders do now will have an immense impact on generations to come. Addressing this displacement crisis will require the support of all of the world’s nations - particularly those with the wealth and resources to make a real dent in the response and the aid effort. We were encouraged to see leadership by the Obama administration and other governments that came here to New York today to pledge their support. But the real test to the pledges made today will be how transparent and accountable governments are in the days and months to come."