Canadian comedian Russell Peters held a press conference in Amman, Jordan, Tuesday after visiting the Zaatari refugee camp.
Speaking about his experience, Peters said Syrians are “the exact same people, they’re just in a bad place.”
He called for nations to take in more refugees, saying their skills and hard work would benefit any country.
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Peters was on a comedy tour through the region when the Canadian embassy asked him to bring his fame to bear on the refugee issue.
“As a comedian, we’re the truth-tellers in the world,” said Peters. “We say what actually happens. You know, politicians say what you want to hear, and the media says what they want you to hear, and comedians are the only people that are out there telling the truth to the people.”
“So for a person like me to go and see firsthand what I saw, it’s up to me to spread the word of what’s real and what’s quote-unquote ‘BS’.”
More than four million Syrians have fled their homeland, with the bulk living in increasingly difficult conditions in neighboring countries such as Jordan and Lebanon, while hundreds of thousands have flooded into Europe.
READ MORE: Denmark clears the way to seize valuables from refugees
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