Turkey calls on UN to establish refugee camps inside Syria

70,000 Syrians have fled to Turkey in influx that has cost gov’t $300 million; 250,000 have run from civil war to neighboring countries

Syrian refugees cross the border with Turkey, March 20 (photo credit: AP/Burhan Ozbilici)
Syrian refugees cross the border with Turkey, March 20 (photo credit: AP/Burhan Ozbilici)

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s foreign minister says the UN should establish refugee camps inside Syria and that his country would struggle to cope with more than 100,000 Syrian refugees.

Over a quarter million Syrians have fled into neighboring countries — nearly 70,000 to Turkey — to escape the more than 17-month violence. Turkey is building four new camps in addition to nine already in use, to deal with an influx that has cost the country $300 million.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told Hurriyet newspaper Monday that the UN should establish refugee camps inside Syria.

Turkish leaders have long called for a creation of a buffer zone to protect Syrians along the border.

The UN Security Council is expected to discuss the situation of refugees on Aug. 30.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press

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