The United Nations doubled its appeal for aid funds on Thursday (June 28th) to help thousands of refugees fleeing the violence in Syria.
"Around 75% of Syrian refugees are women and children. Most are entirely dependent on life-saving humanitarian assistance," Panos Moumtzis, Syria Regional Refugee Coordinator at the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), was quoted as saying by AFP.
The refugee agency asked for $193.1 million, more than twice what was asked for in March.
The increase reflects the fact that the number of refugees seeking shelter in neighbouring countries has also doubled since March to 96,000, Moumtzis told reporters in Geneva.
By the end of the year, 185,000 people are likely to need help, he said.
The need for money is urgent, since increasing numbers of refugees are coming forward to seek help, "arriving with nothing but their clothes" in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, said Moumtzis.
At least 69 people, including 38 civilians and 23 soldiers, died on Thursday, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
According to the Observatory, at least 149 people were killed on Wednesday, one of the bloodiest days of the conflict so far.
Three people were wounded when two bombs exploded near Syria's Palace of Justice in Damascus, Syrian state media reported.
Meanwhile, Turkey deployed missile batteries, tanks and soldiers to its border with Syria, almost a week after Syrian air defences shot down a Turkish F-4 Phantom jet, Turkish media reported.
ADD A COMMENT (COMMENT POLICY) * DENOTES REQUIRED FIELD
READER COMMENTS
احمد ايمن
2012-7-1
Congratulations, Morsi!
حبيب مازني
2012-6-30
Amidst the shameful Arab and international silence and the disappointing and weak stances towards what is going on in Syria, the Syrian regime continued in its arrogance and attempt to impose the reality with the power of arms and military suppression in dealing with the Syrian people through the torture, slaughter, and killing, using the most horrible ways. This causes the deaths of many victims and wounded people. The Arab silence has a role and influence in accelerating the bloody massacres in Syria. The Arab world must wake up and the Arab peoples and governments must work together to support the Syrian people. They must stop these shameful stances and being satisfied with condemnation and denial. They also have to take decisive decisions to find fruitful and effective solutions and restore the lost Arabism in Syria. We have to save the Syrian people. We do not need mere slogans and empty and useless speeches; rather, we have to put in place a quick and urgent plan to save the families and children of the Syrian people. The Arab governments must intervene and send humanitarian aid to the Syrian people in order to save the victims and treat the wounded people in the distressed areas in Syria, which is in need of aid and medicine. Embarrassing the Syrian regime internationally and politically, in addition to embarrassing Russia, China, and Iran, by introducing them as supporters of the legitimacy of the Syrian regime and the main cause of the escalation of the crisis in Syria, in addition to unveiling the crimes of the Syrian regime tin the mass media are important steps. The international mass media are strange and contradictory as to the coverage of the situation in Syria, and this makes us distrust the sponsor states that allege that they defend human rights.