18 May 2013

Syrian refugees now number 1.5 million

11:42 am on 18 May 2013

The United Nations refugee agency says more than 1.5 million people have fled the conflict in Syria.

The UNHCR says most have fled to Jordan and Lebanon, but not have all been registered yet, meaning the true total is likely to be far higher.

The agency said on Friday the situation inside Syria has deteriorated dramatically in the past four months.

It estimates 80,000 people have died in the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad since March 2011 and about 4.25 million have been displaced within the country.