Syrian refugees in Turkey reach 18,780

Syrian refugees walk in an empty spot where tents used to stand in the Reyhanli refugee camp in Hatay province on the Turkish-Syrian border April 2, 2012.[Photo/Agencies]

ANKARA - The number of Syrians sheltering in Turkey has reached 18,780 as of Monday, semi-official Anatolia news agency reported, quoting official figures.

During the past two days, 118 Syrians went back to their country, following a returning trend started last month, while 395 others crossed into Turkey, according to the Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD).

Turkey is providing shelter, food, health, security, education, communication and religious services to Syrians who fled the clashes in their country, AFAD noted, adding that 1,453 Syrian children are attending pre-school, elementary and high school at the tent sites in Hatay province.

Currently, there are 8,564 Syrians staying in Hatay, 3,177 in Gaziantep and 6,990 in Kilis. Accumulatively, 33,676 Syrians have crossed border into Turkey, said the report.

Turkey, once a close ally of Damascus, has imposed on Syria a series of sanctions, including an arms embargo, due to its alleged crackdown on protesters.