A/HRC/4/105 Page 17 into northern Kenya, while further individuals were unable to reach the neighbouring country when the border was closed. 79. Ongoing displacement from and within Iraq is of the utmost concern to UNHCR. In early February 2007 estimates reached a total of 2 million Iraqis who have fled to neighbouring countries, primarily Syria and Jordan, and the number is increasing by approximately 50,000 per month. In addition approximately 1.8 million Iraqis are currently displaced within Iraq. 80. UNHCR is also concerned about the increasingly evident spillover effect of the crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan into neighbouring countries, which is resulting in increased displacement. Protection challenges and the response of UNHCR 81. While global numbers of refugees have been reduced during recent years, not least due to a number of large-scale and successful repatriation operations, protection challenges remain in a climate of increased security concerns, disrespect for international law in the conduct of warfare, and mounting xenophobia and intolerance in general across the globe. In this environment the protection of the human rights of refugees, internally displaced people and others of concern to UNHCR remains a top priority and an integral element of all forms of humanitarian action in which the Office engages. 82. UNHCR revised its global strategic objectives in 2006. Priority is given to ensuring that international standards of protection are met for all refugees and others of concern to UNHCR, taking into account their age, gender or personal background. Priority will also be given to improving protection against refoulement and reducing incidents of violence, in particular of a sexual and gender-based kind; ensuring civil, social and economic rights; and improving the coverage and quality of registration and documentation. 83. Furthermore the efforts of UNHCR will focus on the development and maintenance of an international protection regime by advocating and providing support to Governments in the establishment of national protection regimes in accordance with international standards. This includes: preserving asylum space through the effective implementation of the 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol and related international standards; strengthening the capacity of host countries to undertake refugee status determination, provide asylum and offer durable solutions; and protecting refugees within broader migration movements. A ten-point plan of action has been developed to better address the challenges of mixed migration flows and is to be piloted in the context of the Mediterranean situation. 84. Further objectives high on the agenda for UNHCR are the search for durable solutions, with a focus on self-reliance and integration; the use of resettlement as a strategic protection tool; and the protection of and assistance to IDPs. While resettlement on some occasions has been hampered by a very restrictive implementation of anti-terrorist legislation, efforts have been made to widen the scope of countries offering resettlement. Argentina, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, Iceland and Ireland have now agreed to introduce annual resettlement quotas and although these are still quite small, they complement the possibilities provided by traditional resettlement countries such as Australia, Canada and the United States of America.