UNHCR: 34,000 Syrian Refugees in Lebanon

Nearly 34,000 Syrian refugees had fled the crackdown in their country to Lebanon according to a report issued on Saturday by the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees.

“There are currently more than 34,000 Syrian refugees receiving aid in Lebanon through the efforts exerted by the Lebanese cabinet and its U.N. and non-governmental organization partners,” a statement issued by the UNHCR said.

According to the statement, 31,596 people were registered with the UNHCR.

“Thousands of Syrians crossed into Lebanon on July 18-19 after fierce clashes broke out in Damascus,” it added.

However, the Syrians are still crossing in large numbers into Lebanon while others are returning to their country.

The UNHCR said that the new Syrian refugees expect to remain in Lebanon for a few weeks until the situation in their home areas became more secure.

The statement noted that “based on preliminary estimates, a relatively small number of the new arrivals require humanitarian assistance.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday that more than 20,000 people have been killed in Syrian since the start of the anti-regime revolt in March 2011.