Over 200,000 Syrian Refugees In Neighboring Countries, Says UNHCR

Syrian family crossing into Lebanon fleeing the fighting inside the country. It is estimated that 200,000 have fled Syria., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Over 200,000 Syrian refugees in neighboring countries: UNHCR

Sat Aug 25, 2012 2:31AM GMT
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The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced that more than 200,000 Syrians have fled the country to seek refuge in neighboring countries since March 2011.

"There has been a dramatic increase in the number of (Syrian) refugees in the region during August, we're now at over 200,000 refugees in the region, that's over and above our planning figure for all 2012 of 185,000 refugees," Reuters quoted UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards as saying on Friday.

In the last week alone, almost 30,000 Syrian refugees entered Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan, Edwards added.

Some political analysts say the foreign-backed insurgents’ terrorist tactics are driving up the number of refugees.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011. Damascus says outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorists are the driving factor behind the unrest and deadly violence, while the opposition accuses the security forces of being behind the killings.

The Syrian government says that the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the armed militants are foreign nationals.

Damascus also says the insurgents are supported by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on August 1 that the country is engaged in a “crucial and heroic” battle that will determine the destiny of the nation.