Loading...
Loading...
Click here if you don’t see subscription options

The U.N. refugee agency said on Aug. 19 that some 30,000 Syrians had streamed into northern Iraq and thousands more were waiting to enter. “This new exodus from Syria is among the largest we have so far seen during the conflict, which is now into its third year,” said Dan McNorton, a U.N. spokesperson. “As well as people who told us they were fleeing recent bombings, others say they were escaping fighting and tension amongst various factions on the ground.” The influx began in mid-August when the Kurdistan Regional Government authorities in northern Iraq suddenly opened access to a pontoon bridge, allowing several hundred people camped in the area since earlier last week to enter Iraq. By the following morning thousands had swarmed across the swaying bridge. The tide of refugees continued as reports emerged of high casualties following an alleged chemical weapons attack in Damascus over a neighborhood controlled by Syrian rebels.

Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.

The latest from america

As I sit sore and tired, I cannot also help but think that the N.Y.C. Marathon for me is a thin space, a space where I can easily see God’s presence in the world.
Robert McCarthyNovember 04, 2024
Archbishop Domenico Battaglia of Naples has been named as one of the prelates Pope Francis will make a cardinal on December 7th.
“I will not vote for president this year,” Monica Brent writes. “I cannot in good conscience vote for Donald Trump, for many reasons. However, Kamala Harris’s stance on abortion makes her a no-go for me, as well. ”
Our readersNovember 04, 2024
Pope Francis, your encyclical on the Sacred Heart, “Dilexit Nos,” is beautiful and heartwarming. And for Catholics in the United States, the timing was perfect.
Joe Laramie, S.J.November 04, 2024