The  number of Syrian refugees  in Turkey have due to the  crisis between revolutionaries and President Bashar Al Assaad’s government have risen to over 153,300 persons, the United Nations refugee agency reported today.

More than 60,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Syria and hundreds of thousands more have been displaced since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in early 2011. Recent months have witnessed an escalation in the conflict, which is now in its 23rd month.

“This is about a 3 per cent increase since the year-end figures of 2012,” the Office of the High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a situation report that cites Turkish Government figures that show that 153,307 persons were currently registered in 14 camps in seven provinces of the country.

During the past two weeks 3,266 Syrians were admitted to Turkey from the borders while 1,560 Syrians have returned to Syria voluntarily, according to the report, which also provides updates on educational and health services provided to the refugees.

The report adds that  shortage of space in camps continues to be the main challenge for local authorities. The Nizip-2 camp, a container site with a 5,000-person capacity, is expected to open soon, it said.