(Zaman Al Wasl)- About 12,000 Syrian refugees are still stranded at the Jordanian border in deteriorating humanitarian conditions amid hard entry restrictions by Jordan over security concerns, source told Zaman al Wasl Monday.
The United Nations urged Jordan last week to allow the refugees cross the border and offered to help reinforce security at registration points, according to Reuters.
Aid workers and two Jordanian relief officials attributed the sudden rise in refugees at the border to Russian bombing of IS-controlled areas in eastern Homs, such as Palmyra, as well as in Raqqa province and city.
A Jordanian official declined comment, Reuters said.
The number of refugees at Syria's remote northeastern border with Jordan, where many are gathering near an earthen wall or berm, has jumped to 12,000 from 4,000 in recent weeks, the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said.
UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said Jordan had legitimate security concerns but those could be addressed by properly assessing each case, and UNHCR was prepared to upgrade security of the registration area at Jordan's Azraq camp to allow for comprehensive screening.
"If refugees are not admitted to Jordan and substantial assistance is not provided, the lives of refugees will be at risk in the coming months," Fleming said.
Jordan still hosts 632,228 Syrian refugees, severely straining its infrastructure and economy, Fleming added.
Human Rights Watch said Jordan was putting many lives at risk by blocking 12,000 refugees, most of whom it said were women and children. (With Reuters)
The United Nations urged Jordan last week to allow the refugees cross the border and offered to help reinforce security at registration points, according to Reuters.
Aid workers and two Jordanian relief officials attributed the sudden rise in refugees at the border to Russian bombing of IS-controlled areas in eastern Homs, such as Palmyra, as well as in Raqqa province and city.
A Jordanian official declined comment, Reuters said.
The number of refugees at Syria's remote northeastern border with Jordan, where many are gathering near an earthen wall or berm, has jumped to 12,000 from 4,000 in recent weeks, the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said.
UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said Jordan had legitimate security concerns but those could be addressed by properly assessing each case, and UNHCR was prepared to upgrade security of the registration area at Jordan's Azraq camp to allow for comprehensive screening.
"If refugees are not admitted to Jordan and substantial assistance is not provided, the lives of refugees will be at risk in the coming months," Fleming said.
Jordan still hosts 632,228 Syrian refugees, severely straining its infrastructure and economy, Fleming added.
Human Rights Watch said Jordan was putting many lives at risk by blocking 12,000 refugees, most of whom it said were women and children. (With Reuters)
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