BEIRUT:
The number of Syrians registered in the country increased by 200 the last week
of December, according to a report issued Friday by the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees.
The
slight increase brings the total number of refugees seeking aid with the U.N.
organization to 4,707, as violence in Syria continues to worsen.The country
continues to slide towards instability as its been wracked by civil unrest for
nine months. More than 40 people were killed in Damascus Friday after two bombs
detonated in the Syrian capital, according to media reports.
The
UNHCR said that 25 wounded people were referred to hospitals across northeast
Lebanon last week, up from the 19 people the organization reported were sent to
hospitals the week before.
The
UNHCR report says their organization has provided aid to approximately 9,000
Syrian refugees in Lebanon since the unrest began in the country. Nearly
one-quarter of those refugees are between 0 and 4 years old, while a majority
are under the age of 18.
The
international body said it distributed 323 bottles of baby milk in addition to
781 food kits and 6,264 fuel coupons in December.
Most
of the refugees have crossed into the country via Lebanon’s porous northern
border and taken refuge in the Akkar and Tripoli regions, while others have
fled to villages in the Bekaa Valley.
The
report said most of those who registered with UNHCR crossed into Lebanon
earlier, but only recently sought aid.
The
majority of people who have sought refuge in Lebanon this month come from the
central Homs region and neighboring areas where regime forces have sought to
crush protests against the Syrian government.
Syria
has planted land mines along its border with Lebanon in a bid to prevent
weapons smuggling and dissidents from fleeing across the border.
The U.N. says over 5,000
people have been killed since the protests began.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2011/Dec-24/157809-number-of-syrians-registered-in-country-at-4707--unhcr.ashx#axzz1kO7D5x1B
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