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Syrian Refugees Could Double to 700K

Conflict records deadliest day yet.

There are currently 300,000 Syrians who have been forced to flee to neighboring countries as violence ravages their homeland, and the UN High Commission warns that the number could more than double by the end of the year. “We’re running out of time,” UNCHR’s chief coordinator Panos Moumtzsis said Thursday, predicting that the number of refugees could reach 700,000. Humanitarian agencies have increased their call for aid to $487.9 million; so far, only $141.5 million in funding is available, just 29 percent of what will be needed. Meanwhile, more than 300 people were killed in districts east of Aleppo Thursday, making it the bloodiest day of the Syrian conflict thus far.