Syrians flee to Lebanon

The United Nations has reported thousands of Syrians crossing the border into Lebanon.

6 March 2012, 12:00am

1 min read

As many as 2,000 Syrian refugees have crossed the border into Lebanon amid the violence in the opposition stronghold of Homs

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The UN refugee agency said as many as 2,000 people fled in the past two days amid violence in the opposition stronghold of Homs.

Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian chief, Valerie Amos said she had now been allowed to travel to Syria and planned to go on Wednesday.

Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is also due to visit Syria at the weekend as joint special envoy for the UN and the Arab League. On Wednesday, he will hold talks with league officials in Cairo.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Monday that many Syrian refugees - including women and children - had only a few belongings as they arrived into Lebanon.

Residents of the northern Lebanese town of Arsal said that up 150 Syrian families arrived there on Sunday.

Opposition and human rights activists have said security forces and pro-government militia have been rounding up men and boys over the age of 14 who are still in Baba Amr, and then torturing and killing them.

The Syrian government has denied the Red Cross access to Baba Amr district for four consecutive days, citing security concerns.

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Watching from afar day after day a brutal regime kill its people with impunity, so that it may stay in power, makes an accomplice of us all. History will not be kind. Senator McCain is right. The World has sat this out too long. The time to act on Syria is now -- and we may be too late already.