Syrians flee across Lebanese border

2012-07-23 26

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)

Thousands of Syrians have crossed Lebanon's Masnaa border in the past few days, as Syrian troops drive rebel fighters out of two districts of Damascus-- a week after the insurgents launched a major assault on the capital.

The surge in violence has trapped millions of civilians, turned sections of Damascus into ghost areas, and sent tens of thousands of refugees fleeing to neighbouring Lebanon.

According to the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR up to 30,000 Syrian refugees may have crossed into Lebanon in the last week.