US will take 10,000 More Syrian Refugees In 2016 - Obama

Barack Obama has directed administration officials to prepare for the entry of 10,000 Syrian refugees to the US in 2016, the White House says.

The US has taken in some 1,500 Syrian refugees since the start of the county's civil war, according to the State Department.

The Obama administration has been under increasing pressure to do more to assist US allies in Europe who have faced the brunt of the refugee crisis.
In total some 500,000 people have fled to Europe this year alone. The Greek island of Lesbos is at the forefront, with some 3,000 to 4,000 refugees arriving every day.