http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/06/201169131651223112.html

Thousands of Syrians flee unrest to Turkey

More than 2,400 Syrians have fled into neighbouring Turkey to escape the unrest in Jisr al-Shughur and other towns, according to the UN and Turkish officials.

Refugees started entering Turkey on April 29, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

But the flow of refugees has increased sharply this week. More than 1,000 people crossed the border in the last 24 hours, the UNHCR said on Thursday.

Ahmet Davutoglu in

Speaking from Abu Dhabi, Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish foreign minister, said: "We have serious concerns about the situation in Syria.

"Half an hour ago I received exact numbers - more than 2,400 people have now come to Turkey as refugees."

Most are being housed at a refugee camp in Yayladagi, a town about 10km from the border and 25km from Jisr al-Shughur.

Dozens of white tents have been set up in the camp, and ambulances have been carrying wounded people to hospitals in Antakya, the capital of Turkey's southern Hatay province.

Roughly three dozen refugees have been treated in Antakya for gunshot wounds, according to Turkish media reports.

Metin Corabatir, a spokesman for the UNHCR office in Ankara, the capital, praised the Turkish government's handling of this newest wave of refugees.

"We have been working closely with the Turkish government, and in general they have been doing a good job providing for the refugees," Corabatir said.

The Turkish Red Crescent, which is providing medical care and basic supplies for refugees, declined to comment.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Turkey will not "close its doors" to Syrians fleeing conflict.

He also urged Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's government to "change its attitude towards civilians."