UN: 100,000 Syrians Fled in August

The United Nations says 100,000 Syrians fled their country in August, the highest monthly total since the conflict began last year.

The United Nations says 100,000 Syrians fled their country in August, the highest monthly total since the conflict began last year. U.N. refugee agency spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said Tuesday the rise in people seeking shelter in neighboring countries brings the total number of Syrian refugees registered or awaiting registration to nearly 235,000 since the government began a violent crackdown on protesters in March 2011. Fleming called the August exodus “a significant escalation in refugee movement.” Her comments came as the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus during a mission to push for better access for aid workers. Red Cross officials say chief Peter Maurer held 45 minutes of talks with the Syrian leader Tuesday. They did not give further details. Maurer is on a three-day visit to Damascus for talks on ways to deliver humanitarian aid to Syrians caught up in the civil war.