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UN says Syria refugees hit record in August UN says Syria refugees hit record in August
(35 minutes later)
More than 100,000 Syrians fled their country in August, the UN says - the highest monthly number of refugees since the conflict began in March 2011.More than 100,000 Syrians fled their country in August, the UN says - the highest monthly number of refugees since the conflict began in March 2011.
"These people sought asylum in neighbouring countries," said a spokeswoman for the UN refugee agency. In one month, the UN refugee agency says the total number of people to have left almost doubled to 235,200.
The rising numbers emerged as Red Cross head Peter Maurer discussed Syria's aid crisis with President Assad. "This is a significant escalation in refugee movement," chief spokesperson Melissa Fleming said.
In Aleppo, supplies are said to be dwindling, with access to parts of the city described as impossible. The rising numbers emerged as Red Cross head Peter Maurer held talks on Syria's aid crisis with President Assad.
Five people were said to have been killed in the northern province on Tuesday, a day after at least 25 deaths were reported in air strikes the day before. August was arguably Syria's most violent month yet - as well bringing its biggest flight of refugees - with the pro-opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reporting more than 5,000 deaths.
Opposition activists reported that many people had been wounded by army shelling in the Darat Izza area of Aleppo province on Tuesday morning. Last week alone, the UN children's fund estimated that 1,600 people died.
A Syrian army commander has reportedly vowed to recapture the city in 10 days. Mr Maurer spent less than an hour with the Syrian leader and an International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) spokesman described the meeting as "positive".
Syrian state television said that President Assad supported the ICRC's humanitarian work in Syria as long as it remained "independent and impartial".
ICRC spokeswoman Cecilia Goin told the BBC that the organisation was planning to "scale up its distribution" of food parcels and other aid across Syria.
"The tense and volatile situation is growing. Unfortunately we are not able to help those people in need in those places where fighting is taking place," she said.
In Syria's second city Aleppo supplies are said to be dwindling, with access to parts of the city described as impossible.
Five people were said to have been killed and many others wounded in the northern province on Tuesday, a day after at least 25 deaths were reported in air strikes the day before.
A Syrian army commander has reportedly vowed to recapture the city in 10 days although a Free Syrian Army commander insisted on Tuesday that his forces were "in control of the ground battle".
'Precarious''Precarious'
The escalating fighting in Aleppo and earlier in Damascus has intensified the refugee crisis in Syria. In August, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that 30,000 people had fled to Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the space of a week.The escalating fighting in Aleppo and earlier in Damascus has intensified the refugee crisis in Syria. In August, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that 30,000 people had fled to Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the space of a week.
>Chief UNHCR spokesperson Melissa Fleming said the total number of refugees from Syria who had either been registered or were awaiting registration was now 235,300, with 103,416 people seeking asylum in August alone. >The UNHCR said the total number of refugees from Syria who had either been registered or were awaiting registration was now 235,300, with 103,416 people seeking asylum in August alone.
But the unregistered numbers that have entered countries bordering Syria are thought to be even higher. Turkey says it has taken in more than 80,000 people and another 8,000 are waiting at the Syrian border. But the unregistered numbers that have entered countries bordering Syria are thought to be even higher.
Turkey says it has taken in more than 80,000 people and another 8,000 are waiting at the Syrian border. Media reports say another 10,000 Syrians crossed the border without being registered as refugees and are having difficulty with housing.
According to the Jordanian government, up to 183,000 Syrians have entered the country since the uprising began and refugees are arriving at a rate of around 1,000 a day.According to the Jordanian government, up to 183,000 Syrians have entered the country since the uprising began and refugees are arriving at a rate of around 1,000 a day.
The UN says the situation is precarious, with aid agencies struggling to prepare camps for them.The UN says the situation is precarious, with aid agencies struggling to prepare camps for them.
The head of the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) spent less than an hour with President Assad on Tuesday morning discussing provisions for those still inside Syria. The number of Syrians crossing into Iraq has also risen to around 500 a day, the UN says, compared with 500 a week in the first three weeks of August.
He was also due to meet several other senior Syrian officials and visit some of the Damascus suburbs worst affected by violence. Lebanon too is struggling to provide shelter for the increased numbers of refugees. Many families who were staying in schools are now under pressure to move out because of the start of term.
Syrian state television said afterwards that he supported the organisation's humanitarian work in Syria as long as it remained "independent and impartial". 'More unity'
ICRC spokeswoman Cecilia Goin told BBC News that the organisation was planning to "scale up its distribution" of food parcels and other aid across Syria. A day after he told the BBC of the "nearly impossible" task facing him, new UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is to make a statement to the UN General Assembly before his first visit to President Assad in Damascus at the weekend.
"The tense and volatile situation is growing," she said. China and Russia have both vetoed a succession of proposed UN Security Council resolutions on Syria and there is little sign of any agreement emerging on the next course of diplomatic progress.
"There are armed confrontations persistently in Aleppo and Homs. It's impossible to get into Old Aleppo. Unfortunately we are not able to help those people in need in those places where fighting is taking place." The opposition Syrian National Council has reiterated its call for urgent international military intervention but China has warned that it opposes any such step.
Last week, the ICRC said it had delivered food parcels to 5,000 people as well as 2,000 mattresses and 1,000 hygiene kits but the agency accepted more civilians were in need of help.
Mr Maurer's meeting comes days before the new UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is due to pay his first visit to President Assad in Damascus.
Mr Brahimi, who is to make a statement later to the UN General Assembly, told the BBC on Monday that his task was "nearly impossible".
Hours before US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was due for talks in Beijing, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman stressed the need for a political solution.Hours before US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was due for talks in Beijing, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman stressed the need for a political solution.
"The situation is worsening, but the worse the situation, the more unity is needed," Hong Lei was reported as telling journalists, according to Reuters news agency."The situation is worsening, but the worse the situation, the more unity is needed," Hong Lei was reported as telling journalists, according to Reuters news agency.
China and Russia have both vetoed a succession of proposed UN Security Council resolutions on Syria.
The opposition Syrian National Council has continued its call for urgent international military intervention but Beijing has warned that it opposes any such step.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a pro-opposition activist group, more than 5,000 people were killed in the country last month.