Millions more could flee Syria

Turkey warns EU

Turkey has warned the EU that millions more refugees could flee Syria as the civil war intensifies, European Council President Donald Tusk has said, reports BBC yesterday.
He said Russian and Iranian engagement in Syria was making a victory for President Bashar al-Assad more likely.
According to Turkish estimates, it could mean another three million refugees from Aleppo and the area.
The International Organization for Migration says it has so far had no reports of more people leaving Syria.
"Violence and increased military activity breed displacement of civilians," IOM spokesman Leonard Doyle told the
BBC.
He said his organisation was currently checking the situation on the ground, adding that Mr Tusk's comments were "speculative".
Addressing the European parliament on Tuesday, Mr Tusk said: "During my visits to the region whoever I spoke to -
presidents or refugees in the camps - in Turkey, Jordan, or Egypt warned me against one thing: a potential victory of Assad's regime - more likely today because of Russia's and Iran's engagement in
Syria - will result in the next migratory wave.
"Yesterday, this message was confirmed by (Turkish) President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan. According to Turkish estimates another three million potential refugees may come from Aleppo and its neighbourhood."
Russia began its air strikes in Syria on 30 September, saying it was targeting Islamic State (IS) militants at the request of Mr Assad's government.
The West says Russia is also hitting non-IS rebels - a claim denied by the Kremlin. There have been reports that a number of Syrian civilians have been killed in the Russian strikes,
In Brussels, Mr Erdogan and EU leaders agreed to finalise an action plan with Turkey in the coming days to deal with the refugee crisis.
"It is clear that we need Turkey. The Commission will come to its aid," European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said.
He also hailed Turkey for having admitted 2.2 million Syrian refugees.
But any such action plan could be torn to shreds if millions more refugees emerge from the Syrian civil war, the BBC's Chris Morris in Brussels reports.

 

 

Millions more could flee Syria

Turkey warns EU

Turkey has warned the EU that millions more refugees could flee Syria as the civil war intensifies, European Council President Donald Tusk has said, reports BBC yesterday. He said Russian and Iranian engagement in Syria was making a victory for President Bashar al-Assad more likely. According to Turkish estimates, it could mean another three million refugees from Aleppo and the area. The International Organization for Migration says it has so far had no reports of more people leaving Syria. Violence and increased military activity breed displacement of civilians, IOM spokesman Leonard Doyle told the BBC. He said his organisation was currently checking the situation on the ground, adding that Mr Tusks comments were speculative. Addressing the European parliament on Tuesday, Mr Tusk said: During my visits to the region whoever I spoke to - presidents or refugees in the camps - in Turkey, Jordan, or Egypt warned me against one thing: a potential victory of Assads regime - more likely today because of Russias and Irans engagement in Syria - will result in the next migratory wave. Yesterday, this message was confirmed by (Turkish) President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan. According to Turkish estimates another three million potential refugees may come from Aleppo and its neighbourhood. Russia began its air strikes in Syria on 30 September, saying it was targeting Islamic State (IS) militants at the request of Mr Assads government. The West says Russia is also hitting non-IS rebels - a claim denied by the Kremlin. There have been reports that a number of Syrian civilians have been killed in the Russian strikes, In Brussels, Mr Erdogan and EU leaders agreed to finalise an action plan with Turkey in the coming days to deal with the refugee crisis. It is clear that we need Turkey. The Commission will come to its aid, European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said. He also hailed Turkey for having admitted 2.2 million Syrian refugees. But any such action plan could be torn to shreds if millions more refugees emerge from the Syrian civil war, the BBCs Chris Morris in Brussels reports.