Aid agencies scramble to respond to civilian exodus in north-east Syria

With tens of thousands of people fleeing an air and ground offensive in northeast Syria that started last week, aid workers are rushing to provide food, water and medical assistance.

UNHCR announced that it had distributed blankets and other relief items to some 31,800 people who have fled to the towns of Al-Hassekeh and Tal Tamer. Many people reportedly fled without documents or other belongings and some families have been separated in the chaos.

Some 460 people have crossed into neighbouring Iraq since Sunday while another 2,000 people are estimated to have fled to areas close to the Iraqi border.

UNHCR said that as of today, aid workers could no longer safely access Ain Issa camp near the border town of Tel Abiad where 13,000 people were staying. Hundreds of women and children reportedly fled shelling that hit the camp on Sunday.

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