Syrian refugees hit 1.5 million mark
- 11 years ago
Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan - home to thousands of Syrians fleeing their war-torn country.
With no end in sight, the UN announced on Sunday that the number of registered Syrian refugees has reached 1.5 million - and is set to double by the end of the year. Syria's population is 23 million.
UNHCR's representative in Jordan, Andrew Harper, said entire towns were fleeing the country.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE TO JORDAN, ANDREW HARPER, SAYING:
"We're seeing that number increase by 10,000 plus per day, and we see no let-up in sight."
Jordan has taken in more than 530,000 refugees since the start of the conflict, with Zaatari camp alone hosting more than 150,000.
The numbers present a huge challenge.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE TO JORDAN, ANDREW HARPER, SAYING:
"We're talking of basically having to provide the necessary means for the population of the size of many countries around the world. It's a disaster, i
With no end in sight, the UN announced on Sunday that the number of registered Syrian refugees has reached 1.5 million - and is set to double by the end of the year. Syria's population is 23 million.
UNHCR's representative in Jordan, Andrew Harper, said entire towns were fleeing the country.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE TO JORDAN, ANDREW HARPER, SAYING:
"We're seeing that number increase by 10,000 plus per day, and we see no let-up in sight."
Jordan has taken in more than 530,000 refugees since the start of the conflict, with Zaatari camp alone hosting more than 150,000.
The numbers present a huge challenge.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE TO JORDAN, ANDREW HARPER, SAYING:
"We're talking of basically having to provide the necessary means for the population of the size of many countries around the world. It's a disaster, i