Jordan Turned Back Syrian Refugees, Says Amnesty International


Jordan Turned Back Syrian Refugees, Says Amnesty International

TEHRAN (Tasnim) - A new report by human rights group Amnesty International revealed that that hundreds of refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria have been denied entry into Jordan .

The organization called the situation "unacceptable" and said that several categories of people are being denied entry into the country, including Palestinian and Iraqi refugees who have been living in Syria, those without identification and unaccompanied men with no family in Jordan.

Authorities in Jordan have denied the claims and say their borders are open to Syrian refugees.

"Refugees that reach our borders are allowed in, in accordance with international law and Jordan's historical position of providing safety to those who seek it," Jordanian government spokesman Mohammed al-Momani told BBC News.

Amnesty International also reported that in the past year, dozens of refugees had been allowed into Jordan and then deported back to Syria.
The group said that in August 2012, some 200 refugees were forcibly returned to Syria following a protest at the Zaatari refugee camp and that scores of others have been sent back to Syria since.

More than 100,000 people are estimated to have been killed since the Syrian conflict started in March 2011, and over two million others have now fled the country, mostly finding refuge in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt.

The human rights group is calling for refugees to be able to cross borders freely - but says more international support is needed to help Syria's neighbours deal with the continuing influx.

The UN's $4.4bn appeal for Syrian refugees is only 50% funded, and there has been little response to appeals for Western states to resettle Syrians.

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