Thousands head for Turkey amid Syrian-Russian bombardment
0
Up to 250,000 Syrian are fleeing towards Turkey, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, as Russian and Syrian forces bombard the last rebel-held swathe of territory after Syria's nearly nine-year civil war.
Towns and villages have been pounded by Russian jets and Syrian artillery since a renewed government assault last month.
1
The United Nations said 284,000 had fled their homes as of Monday, with winter weather exacerbating their plight.
Most have fled towards Turkey, which already hosts some 3.7 million -- the largest Syrian refugee population in the world.
2
Erdogan said they were taking some measures to prevent another wave from crossing the border.
(SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRESIDENT TAYYIP ERDOGAN, SAYING (PARTY OVER AUDIENCE LISTENING):
"It's difficult, they are humans too. We cannot put barriers and barbed wire against humans like the West does."
3
And this is what they're running from.
Eight people killed, including five children, when -- according to witnesses and medics -- Syrian army missiles struck a shelter for displaced families in the town of Sarmin.
4
Moscow and Damascus have both previously denied allegations of indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas, saying they are fighting Al Qaeda inspired militants.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to recapture Idlib, though Turkey has long supported the rebels and has 12 military posts in the area.