Thousands of Syrian refugees fleeing the conflict in the Arab country have entered Lebanon over the past two days, a local official says.
Ahmad al-Hojairi, an official in Lebanon’s border town of Arsal, said on Saturday that “some 1,000 families have fled to Arsal since Friday.”
"We are trying to accommodate them in people's homes and in tents, but there is no way we can cover for their needs," Hojairi also said, asking the international community to help them.
The families came from Qalamoun region north of the Syrian capital, Damascus, that has been the scene of clashes between government forces and foreign-backed militants over the past few days.

The refugees crossed the border by motorbikes and cars or on foot, Hojairi said, adding, "We expect more to arrive in the coming days as the fighting in Qalamoun intensifies."

According to the United Nations, more than 800,000 Syrian have either registered or are awaiting registration as refugees in Lebanon. But some Lebanese officials said there could be over one million Syrian refugees in the country.

According to the UN, more than 100,000 people have been killed and millions displaced in the deadly unrest that has gripped Syria since March 2011.

The Western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey -- are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.

In May, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said militants from 29 different countries are fighting against his government forces in different parts of the country.

By Press TV

 

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