Billionaire George Soros to invest nearly $700 million to help migrants, refugees

Billionaire investor George Soros in June 2016 in London. PHOTO: REUTERS

(REUTERS) - Billionaire investor George Soros said on Tuesday (Sept 20) he would invest US$500 million (S$680 million) to meet the needs of migrants and refugees.

The investment comes in response to the Obama administration's "Call to Action" initiative, asking US companies to help ease the migrant crisis.

"We will invest in startups, established companies, social impact initiatives, and businesses started by migrants and refugees themselves," Soros said in a statement.

"These investments are intended to be successful. But our primary focus is to create products and services that truly benefit migrants and host communities."

Soros, founder of the Open Society Foundations, also said he plans to work closely with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Rescue Committee to guide his investments.

This comes a day after the ceasefire between the US and Russia in Syria collapsed, after a deadly attack on a convoy carrying humanitarian supplies near Aleppo.

Soros first made the announcement in an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.