Scarce Aid Compounds Syria Refugee Crisis

As the Syrian civil war continues, more and more refugees are pouring into neighboring countries. In the past month, 40,000 to 50,000 Syrian refugees has fled to Jordan. According to Andrew Harper, head of the United Nations Commissions on Refugees in Jordan, this has been the highest number of fleeing individuals since the start of the uprising two years ago. 2,000 to 4,000 people are coming into Jordan every night, and 60% of them are children. 

The UN set a goal to raise $1.5 billion for aid that would go directly to refugees. 

The article's main focus is on Jordan's strain from refugees, and it also mentions Lebanon's openness. An interview with one refugee reveals that he had first tried to flee to Iraq, but he was not allowed in. Abdul Aziz, the refugee, believes that the barring is due to the Shia-led government restricting Sunnis from entering the country. Aziz expressed his anger, saying that Syria had opened its doors to Iraqi refugees during their war. 

I find this exchange of refugees intriguing. The reasons for a neighboring country to accept/deny refugees runs much deeper than available aid.

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