The ghost towns of Northern Syria

  • 12 years ago
The ghost towns of Northern Syria.

Amateur video obtained by Reuters shows abandoned buildings and closed stores.

Many residents have fled the fighting between government forces and rebels seeking to oust President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian troops stand guard as they seek to flush out rebels.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UDAI ABDEL KAREEM, SAYING:

"Life is almost non-existent here. There has been continued shelling and mobilization of sharpshooters on rooftops. The army is in the area and terrorizing residents. Those people remaining are unable to leave the area due to poverty caused by Assad's troops."

The UN has doubled its forecast for the number of refugees who will flee Syria this year to 185,000.

Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters

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