Turkey is bracing itself for an influx of refugees as unrest continues in neighbouring Syria. So far just under 300 migrants have arrived at a camp in the border town of Yayladagi but thousands are waiting to enter. Normally Syrians can visit Turkey without a visa but many who are coming are looking for asylum, because they’re afraid to go back.
Seryah Hammoude is one of the refugees: “The secret services and the mercenaries arrived and attacked us, they started shooting and they killed several people.
Fortunately we escaped from the city. But those who were arrested were shot inside the jail.”After registering their claim the migrants were given official papers and taken to a makeshift camp where they can stay temporarily. The Turkish Red Crescent is providing food, and there are also medical facilities. The border between the two countries runs for nearly 900 kilometres. It is natural that Syrians fleeing the unrest would head for its neighbour.Hundreds flee as Syria continues its crackdown
Government forces backed up by snipers have tightened their grip on Syria’s third largest city of Homs. Rights groups claim hundreds have been fleeing as President Bashar al-Assad has sent tanks and troops into residential areas. Security forces have dispersed pro-democracy demonstrations across the country – in particular in the strategic southern region.
In the capital Damascus, heavy gunfire was heard in the western suburb of Muadhamiya where unconfirmed reports say three people were killed during protests. The unremitting crackdown and rising death toll has stirred the EU into imposing an arms ban while UN officials have expressed concern over the city of Deraa which has been cut off by tanks for two weeks.
Copyright © 2011 euronews
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