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06Feb16

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35,000 Syrian refugees flee to Turkish border in 48 hours

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Around 35,000 Syrian refugees have arrived at the Turkish border near the southern city of Kilis in the last 48 hours, with tens of thousands more to come, the local governor said on Saturday.

Suleyman Tapsiz, governor of Kilis province, told reporters at the Oncupinar border that the 35,000 Syrian refugees are being accommodated at camps on the Syrian side of the border.

Another 70,000 Syrians could be expected if Russian air strikes and Syrian army's advances continued, said the governor, adding that "our doors are not closed, but at the moment there is no need to host such people inside our borders."

The refugees had been given food, blankets and tents, he said.

Meanwhile, some 2,000 Turkmens crossed into Turkey Saturday to flee attacks by Russian and Syrian forces in northwestern Syria, according to the Turkish authorities. They have taken refuge in Guvecci camp near Yayladagi, a border town in the Hatay province in southern Turkey, while more migrants would be allowed into Turkey in the coming days.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Thursday that more than 5,000 Turkmens and Arab refugees had been accepted into Turkey in the last week alone, following the airstrikes.

Recent attacks in northwestern Syria have displaced thousands of Turkmens, a Turkic ethnic group mainly in Syria and Iraq, prompting many to seek refuge in southern Turkey.

[Source: Xinhua, Ankara, 06Feb16]

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This document has been published on 08Feb16 by the Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.