Aleppo Fighting Adds to Refugee Problem – 200,000 Fled Syria’s Largest City

More than 200,000 residents of Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, have fled their homes seeking safety as battles between regime troops and opposition Free Syrian Army forces continue, often intensely, into a third day. A UN official told reporters that there is already a shortage of humanitarian supplies in Aleppo, including food, drinking water, and bedding. The intensity of the hostilities has curtailed the ability of humanitarian workers to do their jobs according to UN sources. Both sides are claiming success against the other, but the prohibition against foreign journalists and the dangerous conditions make it difficult to ascertain whose account is more accurate. Although defections from President Al-Assad’s army continued as 12 Syrian officers crossed into Turkey on Sunday, bringing the number of high-ranking defections to 28 in 16-months, the regime force continues to outnumber and outgun rebel fighters, who nevertheless claim they are near victory.