- Title: TURKEY: Syrians seek refuge in Hatay province
- Date: 19th June 2012
- Summary: ANTAKYA SEAT OF HATAY PROVINCE, TURKEY (JUNE 18, 2012) (REUTERS) MILITARY POINT OF TURKEY'S BORDER CONTROL VARIOUS OF TURKEY'S BORDER AN AMBULANCE PASSING THROUGH THE AREA VARIOUS OF REFUGEES CROSSING THE BORDER VARIOUS OF THE ARRIVAL OF REFUGEES MAN SITTING ON THE GRASS MORE OF REFUGEES TURKISH WOMEN LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) REFUGEE FROM IDLIB, MOHAMMED F
- Embargoed: 4th July 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Turkey
- Country: Turkey
- Topics: Conflict,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA3NMCSC2NK21LVI6T7X6N8NUJB
- Story Text: Turkey's southern Hatay province a few hundred metres from the Syrian border, has experienced a fresh influx of refugees pouring into the country, fleeing continued violence in their homeland.
Scores of refugees could be seen making their way across the border on Monday (June 18) to join an estimated 25,000 others who have already made the journey, according to Turkey.
This comes only a day after the United Nations announced it had been forced to suspend observers operations following escalating violence in Syria.
Mohammed Faki who fled Idlib said he was reluctant to leave his hometown but had crossed the border to ensure his family reached Turkey safely.
"For everyone a nation is valuable to them and no one gives up their nation, however the regime has not left a city or village without shelling, they have slaughtered the children with knives and raped the women and buried men alive. They ask us to say Bashar is a God they even want to steal our religion. They want to steal our Arabism and tie us to Russia and Iran. I am dropping off my family in Turkey and will make sure they are fine, then will cross back to fight against that dog Bashar," said Mohammed Faki.
The U.N. mission's chief monitor General Robert Mood has blamed both government troops and rebels for the relentless conflict, in which President Bashar al-Assad's forces are trying to crush an increasingly well-armed insurgency which grew out of a 15-month-old wave of protests.
Another refugee, Obadah Yousef, said Syrians were willing to take great risks rather than face death in their country.
"We escape so we can treat the injured in a better manner, not while being shelled. We are not armed and own no arms to defend our families and children," said Yousef, who is from Idlib.
"Regarding the Syrian army we are taking a lot of risk but it is better than dying. We know when we are inside and want to leave the chance of leaving is one percent and the Turks at the border don't allow us in easily, they want to take us to Orfa camp," he added.
Turkey has set up about 10 camps for the refugees, with most located in the provinces of Gaziantep and Hatay. Authorities have also erected a container city in Kilis province.
Mohammed Faki had a final message for President Assad, before he departed in a car with other Syrians:
"Bashar do not leave we will come after you, watch out."
The sheer number of Syrians attempting to escape their country through the borders forced the Turkish government in April to accept international aid to help share the cost of the caring for them. Refugees are reported to include rebel fighters.
Cost of care for the Syrian refugees has tipped over 100 million USD according to the Turkish government.
Turkey fears a surge of refugees, similar to the tens of thousands who crossed from Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War and overwhelmed Turkish aid services.
Ankara has signalled a tide of refugees is one of the factors that could trigger efforts to establish a "safe zone" on the Syrian side of the border. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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