U.N. Says 12,500 Registered Syrian Refugees in Jordan

The U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said on Thursday the number of registered Syrians who have fled the unrest in their country to neighboring Jordan reached around 12,500 this month.

"In Jordan, some 12,500 Syrians had registered with UNHCR as of mid-April 2012. This figure is expected to increase as UNHCR and partners expand their outreach efforts and level of assistance to Syrians," the agency said in a statement on its website.

"The Jordanian government and UNHCR believe there are tens of thousands of vulnerable Syrians in the country."

Amman has said that nearly 100,000 Syrians have sought refuge in the kingdom since the uprising against President Bashar Assad erupted in March last year.

"Many refugees have arrived with limited means to cover basic needs, and those who could at first rely on savings or support from host families are now increasingly in need of assistance," the UNHCR said.

Monitors say 11,000 people have died in the Syria conflict, while the United Nations puts the death toll at more than 9,000.

"As of mid-April 2012, more than 55,000 people are estimated to have fled to the neighboring countries of Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq, putting an increasing strain on the governments and host communities," said the UNHCR.

It appealed in March for $84 million to support Syrian refugees, saying contingency plans for looking after 100,000 abroad were under way.