“With the main routes closed, the only choice left for refugees are the desert routes,” said Abu Samer Al Saad, a Free Syrian Army (FSA) commander based near the border city of Nasib, which has reportedly witnessed an exodus of around 3,000 Syrians over the past two days.
“Their only real hope to escape the bombings and the massacres is to risk their lives and go to Jordan.”
Syrian activists and rebel officials estimate that a total of 6,000 displaced civilians have set off on the desert route — which often takes up to a week — since Tuesday, the vast majority hailing from conflict-hit northern cities such as Aleppo, Homs and Hama.
