Turkey has warned the UN it may need help if the flow of refugees from Syria continues at its current rate.

After speaking to the UN secretary general, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the refugee issue was becoming an “international problem”. Some 2,800 Syrians have crossed in 36 hours, with the total now near 24,000. Troops and rebels were engaged in heavy fighting across Syria on Friday, just six days before the UN hopes a full ceasefire will come into effect. The UN estimates more than 9,000 people have died in the year-long uprising against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad.