LOC17:21
14:21 GMT
ISTANBUL, Feb 12 (KUNA) -- Up to 40,000 displaced or homeless Syrians have settled in hurriedly-erected camps on the Turkish border inside Syria in the latest wave of Syrian refugees, as Russian and Syrian regime forces pound northern regions, causing thousands to flee to Turkey, said Turkish Deputy Premier Yalcin Akdogan on Friday.
Speaking to reporters, Akdogan said, "In the last week, there was a wave of migration, notably because of the Russian bombardment and 35,000 to 40,000 people marched to the Turkish border."
A diplomatic initiative with Russia and Syria is needed to prevent further waves of migration that would also impact Europe, Akdogan told reporters near the border town Oncupinar, in comments broadcast live by TRT television.
He added that 13.5 million people in Syria are currently in dire need for support. Up to 6.5 million had to leave their homes and 4.3 million had fled to neighboring countries. He also said number of the Syrian refugees in Turkey reached 2.6 million.
The United States, Russia and more than a dozen other nations have reached an agreement in Munich to cease hostilities in Syria and provide humanitarian aid. The deal is aimed at eventually paving way for a political transition in the war-ravaged country. (end)
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