UN: 160k Syrians displaced in 2 weeks

The United Nations says the ongoing conflict in Syria has forced more than 160,000 people from their homes in only two weeks.

UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos briefed the UN Security Council on Tuesday that more refugees are expected to flee Syria from Aleppo Province, which borders Turkey.

“Their fear was so great that many people crossed heavily-mined fields to seek refuge,” Amos stated.

She went on to say that about 11 million people still need urgent humanitarian aid, urging more cooperation from the international community in addition to the USD 1 billion pledged last week during the UN General Assembly.

“Intense fighting and shifting conflict lines continue to make the delivery of aid difficult and dangerous,” the UN official said.

Foreign-backed militant groups have inflicted major humanitarian and material damage to Syria in over three years of turmoil in the country. More than 191,000 people have been killed.

Recently, the deputy director of Human Rights Watch Middle East and North Africa, Nadim Houry, warned about the escalation of violence against Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

The Human Rights Watch official also urged the Lebanese government to step up efforts for protecting the refugees. More than 1.1 million Syrian refugees are reportedly living in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, some 1.5 million Syrian refugees have taken refuge in Turkey since March 2011.

Turkish officials say militants are now only about eight kilometers away from the Turkish territory.

GMA/HSN/SS