UNHCR warns Syrian refugee total may be even higher as number fleeing conflict continues to soar at alarming rate.
Matthew Weaver
The scale and speed of the exodus of those fleeing the violence in Syria has been underlined by UN figures showing that the number of refugees has topped 1.5 million, just 10 weeks after the millionth refugee fled to safety.
The UN's refugee agency, the UNHCR, said the number of refugees and those awaiting registration had reached 1,511,976. Its regional co-ordinator, Panos Moumtzis, said the figures showed the crisis was rapidly deteriorating.
He added: "Refugees tell us the increased fighting and changing of control of towns and villages, in particular in conflict areas, results in more and more civilians deciding to leave. Over the past four months we have seen a rapid deterioration when compared to the previous 20 months of this conflict."
In March the UNHCR warned that the crisis was "spiralling towards full-scale disaster" when the number of refugees topped 1 million for the first time.
If the number of people fleeing the conflict continues to increase at such a rate every 10 weeks there will be more 3.5 million Syrian refugees, or 15% of total population of Syria, by the end of the year.
Moumtzis warned that the official figure masked an even greater problem. "The fact that we have now surpassed 1.5 million people registered or those who have appointments sadly means the actual number is in reality much higher," he said. "This is due to concerns that some have regarding registration. There is increasingly a widening gap between the needs and resources available."
Campaigners warned that the figures would be even higher if neighbouring countries were not illegally blocking entry to tens thousands of people.
Gerry Simpson, acting refugee programme director at Human Rights Watch, said: "Jordan should stop its flagrant violation of international law and end its border push-back policy that prevents tens of thousands of desperate people trying to flee one of the world's worst conflicts from seeking refuge in Jordan, including Palestinian and Iraqi refugees living in Syria, single men of military age and anyone unable to prove their identity. All these people have a right not to be forced back to situations threatening their lives."
"Turkey's continued partial border closure means up to 50,000 Syrians are stuck in Syria, in an active war zone, waiting to find protection in Turkey. Jordan and Turkey are playing Russian roulette with tens of thousands of lives."
But Simpson acknowledged that Turkey and Jordan were "shouldering a huge burden" of the problem, and needed help from the international community.
Chris Doyle, director of the Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding, pointed out that about 10% of Jordan's population were Syrian refugees and that the Za'atari refugee camp was the fifth-largest city in the country.
Speaking at a briefing in the House of Commons he "At what point are other countries going to step up to the plate and start taking some of these refugees?" Doyle said. "I think it is unconscionable that we leave it to neighbouring states who have taken on so much. The EU has to open its doors."
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