Syrian refugees pass 5 million mark: UN

The number of people fleeing Syria’s civil war into neighbouring states and Egypt has passed the five million mark, data from the UN refugee agency showed on Thursday.

Syrians have poured across their borders into Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq since antigovernment protests in 2011 spiralled into a full-blown conflict between rebels, Islamist militants, government troops and foreign backers.

After levelling off in 2016, refugee numbers rose this year following the military victory by the government and its Russian and Iranian-backed allies in the northern city of Aleppo.

“It’s not about the number, it’s about the people,” said UNHCR spokesman Babar Baloch, noting that the conflict had now lasted longer than World War Two. “We’re trying to look for understanding, solidarity and humanity.”

The five-million milestone came a year to the day after UNHCR asked other countries to start resettling at least 10% of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees. So far only 250,000 places have been offered.

“We’re asking for more legal pathways for Syrians to travel to other countries so that they don’t end up dying in the seas like in the Mediterranean,” said Baloch.

Globally, almost 1.2 million refugees of all nationalities will need resettlement in 2017, 40% of them Syrians. Fear for their fate increased after US President Donald Trump made an executive order banning entry to all Syrian refugees.

“The US has remained the largest resettlement for refugees,” Baloch said. “Our hope is the focus will come back on the suffering of these desperate people and refugees and there will be solidarity and responsibility sharing by all countries.”

A UN-led humanitarian appeal to help Syrian refugees and support host communities received only 6% of the money needed this year. REUTERS