di Redazione
The conflict in Syria is causing a “staggering humanitarian crisis” in the Middle East, said the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in a 23-page report published on Monday.
The report said that more than 600,000 Syrians have fled the country because of violence, including gang rape.
The New York-based organization described the level of rape and sexual violence taking place in the conflict zones in Syria as “horrific.”
Many refugees told the IRC that sexual violence was the main reason that they fled the country, saying gang rapes are often committed in front of family members.
Refugees said girls and women had been kidnapped, raped, tortured, and killed.
“After decades of working in war and disaster zones, the IRC knows that women and girls suffer physical and sexual violence in every conflict. Syria is no exception,” the report further elaborated.
On January 11, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also announced that a total of 612,134 Syrians had been registered or were in the process of being registered as refugees in neighbouring countries and North Africa.
The UNHCR office said nearly 176,600 refugees have been registered in Jordan, and 1,100 Syrians cross the Jordanian border every day.
Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011 due to the case being orchestrated by the opposition which includes Syrian and foreign terrorists.
