Syrian refugee total passes 250,000

The number of Syrian people seeking help from the UN refugee agency has passed a quarter of a million.

Agency spokesman Adrian Edwards said 253,106 people have registered or are awaiting registration as Syrian refugees.

Mr Edwards said there are 85,197 in Jordan, 78,431 in Turkey, 66,915 in Lebanon and 22,563 in Iraq as of this week.

Officials acknowledge, however, the real number of Syrian refugees is likely to be far higher since tens of thousands are believed to have not yet registered with authorities.

Mr Edwards said the refugees say artillery and air attacks are continuing in villages and towns close to the Jordanian border.

Activists claim up to 26,000 people have been killed in Syria since an uprising began in March 2011 against President Bashar Assad’s regime.