Syria's Refugee Crisis Explodes As The Civil War Escalates

Thousands Fleeing Syrian Capital As Fighting Surges -- New York Times

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Thousands of people were fleeing Damascus and heading into Lebanon on Friday, according to the United Nations refugee agency, as rebels described the country’s bloodiest fighting in the 17-month uprising.

Between 8,500 and 30,000 Syrians have crossed into Lebanon in the last 48 hours, an agency spokeswoman, Melissa Fleming, said at a news briefing in Geneva. The new flood adds to an exodus of more than 112,000 who have already registered as refugees in Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Jordan, and many thousands more who have fled but not registered. United Nations relief agencies say three-quarters of them are women and children, often arriving in a desperate state with no more than the clothes they are wearing. Internally, as many as a million people have been displaced, according to the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.

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More News On Syria's Refugee Crisis

Thousands flee Syria as fighting rages -- The National
Syria: Thousands flee Damascus as fighting intensifies -- BBC
Syrians Flee In Thousands To Escape Conflict -- RTT News
Syrians flee as violence escalates -- Financial Times
U.N. Refugee Agency Reports Worsening Situation in Syria -- New York Times
New stream of refugees escapes strife in Syria -- L.A. Times
More than 30,000 Syrians cross into Lebanon in 48 hours -- Daily Star
Up to 30,000 Syrians may have crossed into Lebanon: UN -- Reuters
Iraqis flee Syria as violence reaches capital, troops rush to reinforce border -- Washington Post/AP
Syria crisis: Iraqis flee 'sectarian violence' in Damascus -- BBC
Iraq says unable to support Syrian refugees -- AFP
Iraqi army seals main border crossing to Syria -- Reuters
UN: 'Steady' influx of Syrian refugees to Jordan -- NOW Lebanon
State Dept: Syrian refugee crisis spinning out of control -- The Cable/Foreign Policy