Some 6,700 Syrians crossed illegally into
the Kingdom last month, and some 7,500 crossed via official
checkpoints, according to the UNHCR — well below a previous monthly
influx that once stood between 50,000 and 70,000.
The drop comes amid ongoing violence
along the Jordanian-Syrian border that UN officials say has led to an
over 70 per cent drop in the number of Syrians fleeing to the country.
Relief officials say the ongoing blockade
continues to force hundreds of Syrians to brave lesser-travelled, more
arduous eastern desert routes to reach Jordan, with some 90 per cent of
Tuesday’s crossings arriving via the eastern routes.
Jordan has opened its border to over 560,000 Syrians since the onset of the conflict in March 2011.
