Jordan confirms surge of 12,000 Syrian refugees gathered at border

Jordan has confirmed that over 12,000 Syrian refugees have amassed at its border, confirming an earlier estimate by the United Nations refugee agency in December.

Government spokesman Mohammed Momani told The Associated Press that “the number is 12,000, but it is increasing.”

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees had urged Jordanian authorities to allow them into the country, warning of "deteriorating humanitarian conditions," and appealed to the government to prioritize entry for the most vulnerable, including the elderly, babies under six months of age and pregnant women.

According to Momani, about 50 to 100 refugees are given entry each day and that women, children, elderly and sick people are given priority.  Mass entry though is unlikely due to security concerns.

A statement by the UNHCR said 11,000 refugees were in Rukban, about eight kilometers (five miles) from the point where the Syrian, Iraqi and Jordanian borders meet. The remaining 1,000 are in Hadalat, about 90 kilometres further west...
 AFP
i24news.tv
6/1/16
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