Number of Syrian refugees in Turkey exceeds 600,000

The number of Syrian refugees in Turkey has exceeded 600,000 and more than 400,000 of them are living outside the refugee camps set up mainly in Turkish border cities, the Turkish disaster management agency said on Monday. Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD) spokesperson Mustafa Aydogdu said that they have conducted a study before the Eid (al-Adha) holidays and seen that the numbers have increased above 600,000. Aydogdu added that nearly 200,000 Syrians were living in 21 refugee camps, while the rest chose to live in rented accommodation outside the camps.