Jordan: Nearly 60,000 Syrian refugees return home

Some move to north to join rebels, others are driven out of camps because of bad living conditions

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — A Jordanian official said Wednesday that nearly 60,000 Syrian refugees have left the kingdom to go back home, some to fight President Bashar Assad’s regime and others because living conditions in their camp became too difficult.

The return came as Jordan’s resources to cope with the influx of Syrian refugees increasingly dwindled. Jordan hosts over half a million Syrians, which has put significant pressure on the kingdom. Out of that number, about 150,000 live at the Zaatari camp near the border with Syria, Jordan’s main camp for refugees.

The official, Anmar Hmoud, said that 58,641 of those who sought shelter in the kingdom since the Syrian conflict erupted in March 2011 have now gone back.

The UN refugee agency is expected to issue a fresh appeal for help in June.