Flow of Syrian refugees into Jordan intensifies

About 3,000 have fled civil war for Hashemite kingdom each night for the past five days

By Dale Gavlak 22 January 2013, 7:11 pm

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A Syrian refugee boy runs to his family tent at Zaatari Syrian refugee camp, near the Syrian border in Mafraq, Jordan, on January 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Mohammad Hannon)

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — The UN refugee agency in Jordan says there has been a spike in the number of Syrians fleeing the civil war at home and crossing into Jordan.

UNHCR’s representative Andrew Harper says about 3,000 Syrians have entered Jordan every night for the past 5 days.

Harper said Tuesday the spike is due to intensified shelling, fighting and the “desperate situation” in Syria’s southern villages.

He says Jordan’s Zaatari refugee camp is filling up quickly and that the UNHCR is running out of money to expand and set up other camps.

Harper expressed hope the upcoming conference in Kuwait on January 30 will raise funds for Syrian refugees.