This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21676542
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Syria conflict: Refugees number one million, says UN | Syria conflict: Refugees number one million, says UN |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The number of Syrian refugees who have fled the conflict has reached one million, the UN has said. | The number of Syrian refugees who have fled the conflict has reached one million, the UN has said. |
| The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said the number of people seeking haven in neighbouring countries had jumped since the beginning of the year. | The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said the number of people seeking haven in neighbouring countries had jumped since the beginning of the year. |
| Half of the refugees were children, the UN said, most under the age of 11 and often traumatised by their experiences. | Half of the refugees were children, the UN said, most under the age of 11 and often traumatised by their experiences. |
| The largest numbers of refugees were seeking shelter in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt. | The largest numbers of refugees were seeking shelter in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt. |
| "Syria is spiralling towards full-scale disaster," the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said in a statement, warning that the international humanitarian response capacity was "dangerously stretched". | "Syria is spiralling towards full-scale disaster," the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said in a statement, warning that the international humanitarian response capacity was "dangerously stretched". |
| "This tragedy has to be stopped," he added, warning that the influx of people had also stretched the resources of Syria's neighbours. | "This tragedy has to be stopped," he added, warning that the influx of people had also stretched the resources of Syria's neighbours. |
| 'Tremendous burden' | 'Tremendous burden' |
| Many of those who have fled conflict now live in difficult conditions, with poor sanitation and insufficient resources to cope with the harsh winters. | Many of those who have fled conflict now live in difficult conditions, with poor sanitation and insufficient resources to cope with the harsh winters. |
| In Lebanon, for example, the influx of almost a third of a million refugees since last February had swollen the country's population by 10%. | In Lebanon, for example, the influx of almost a third of a million refugees since last February had swollen the country's population by 10%. |
| Turkey, providing a temporary home for some 184,000 refugees, has spent more than $600m (459m euros; £396m) setting up 17 refugee camps, and was building new ones to meet the increasing need, the UN said. | Turkey, providing a temporary home for some 184,000 refugees, has spent more than $600m (459m euros; £396m) setting up 17 refugee camps, and was building new ones to meet the increasing need, the UN said. |
| "These countries should not only be recognised for their unstinting commitment to keeping their borders open for Syrian refugees, they should be massively supported as well," Mr Guterres said. | "These countries should not only be recognised for their unstinting commitment to keeping their borders open for Syrian refugees, they should be massively supported as well," Mr Guterres said. |
| On Tuesday, Jordan's King Abdullah called on world nations to help his country, Turkey and Lebanon to shoulder "the tremendous burden" of caring for the huge influx of people. | On Tuesday, Jordan's King Abdullah called on world nations to help his country, Turkey and Lebanon to shoulder "the tremendous burden" of caring for the huge influx of people. |
| The rush of refugees has surprised even UN experts, who had originally estimated that the one million figure would not be reached until the end of June 2013. | The rush of refugees has surprised even UN experts, who had originally estimated that the one million figure would not be reached until the end of June 2013. |
| In effect, more than 400,000 have became refugees since 1 January 2013. | In effect, more than 400,000 have became refugees since 1 January 2013. |
| The UN's emergency response plan for Syrian refugees, it said, currently lacked 75% of the funding required. | The UN's emergency response plan for Syrian refugees, it said, currently lacked 75% of the funding required. |
| Jordan's Petra news agency said that a total of 2,257 Syrian refugees had crossed into the country on Tuesday alone. | Jordan's Petra news agency said that a total of 2,257 Syrian refugees had crossed into the country on Tuesday alone. |
| Some 110,000 of those who have sought shelter in Jordan are living in the desert camp of Zaatari, near its northern border with Syria. | Some 110,000 of those who have sought shelter in Jordan are living in the desert camp of Zaatari, near its northern border with Syria. |
| The conflict in Syria began almost two years ago with demonstrations against the government of President Bashar al-Assad. | The conflict in Syria began almost two years ago with demonstrations against the government of President Bashar al-Assad. |
| The protests quickly turned violent as opponents of Mr Assad took up arms to try to resist a brutal crackdown by the authorities. | The protests quickly turned violent as opponents of Mr Assad took up arms to try to resist a brutal crackdown by the authorities. |
| The conflict has left more than 70,000 people dead and two million internally displaced. |