350,000 flee Daraa in Syria

Over 350,000 people have fled Syria’s southwestern city of Daraa to border areas near Jordan and Israel due to attacks by Syrian regime forces and their allies, civil defence sources said today.

On 12 June, the Syrian regime, supported by Iranian militia groups and Russian air power, launched a major operation aimed at capturing opposition-held areas of southern Syria.

Civil defence sources in Daraa told the Anadolu Agency that the number of people fleeing the region has surpassed 350,000.

Mostly women and children, civilians are looking for shelter near the Jordanian border.

According to the UK-based Syrian Network for Human Rights, at least 214 civilians – including women and children – were killed in regime attacks in Daraa in the period from 15-30 June.

The onslaught has reportedly forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee to areas near Syria’s border with Jordan.

The UN once again called on Jordan to open its border yesterday and provide temporary shelter to tens of thousands of Syrian people fleeing airstrikes in southwestern Syria.

Russia, Jordan agree on need for political settlement in Syria