LONDON: More than 1.3 million refugees from Syria in dire need of increased international support, stated Amnesty International.
According to a report on the organization's website, to escape the ongoing bloodshed and violence at home, those fleeing have sought safety in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq.
Many live in extremely difficult conditions.
All these countries say that the long-term hosting of refugees is putting a strain on resources, as increasing numbers of Syrians and others try to reach the relative safety of refugee camps and elsewhere in neighboring countries, it added.
"The responsibility to protect and assist refugees from Syria needs to be shouldered by both the international community and neighboring countries," said Charlotte Phillips, refugee researcher at Amnesty International.
Despite Turkey’s stated "open door policy", many refugees attempting to cross into the country have been stopped, leaving people stranded inside Syria in terrible conditions.
Credible reports have emerged of other refugees being forced to return to Syria.
"Neighboring countries must keep their borders open to all refugees fleeing Syria, without discrimination.
Under no circumstances should people be forcibly returned to Syria, where there continues to be violence, bloodshed and human rights abuses on a massive scale," said Phillips. (QNA)
