Syria war: Thousands flee offensives in Afrin and Ghouta

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As many as 50,000 people have fled two separate offensives in Syria in recent days, activists say.

At least 20,000 have fled Eastern Ghouta, near Damascus, where Russian air strikes are supporting Syrian government attempts to retake the area.

The rest fled the northern town of Afrin, where Turkey is fighting a US-backed Kurdish militia that it considers a terrorist group.

Dozens of people were killed in air strikes on Friday, activists said.

Seven years of civil war have driven nearly 12 million Syrians from their homes:

• At least 6.1 million are internally displaced
• Another 5.6 million have fled abroad
• More than 400,000 are believed to have been killed or are missing, presumed dead

On Friday, the Syrian ambassador to the United Nations said the estimates of those who fled the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta could be twice as high as reported, with up to 40,000 leaving on Thursday alone. The number could not be verified.

• Why is there a war in Syria?

The Eastern Ghouta Front: Syrian government v rebels

Russian air strikes killed 46 people on Friday in the Eastern Ghouta town of Kafr Batna, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group.

Despite international calls for a ceasefire, there has been no let-up in the offensive and the Syrian army is now pushing into densely populated areas, backed by Russian air support.

Image copyrightAFP

Residents have told BBC News there is intense street fighting between rebels and government soldiers in some parts of the enclave.

Humanitarian corridors controlled by the Syrian government reportedly allowed about 4,000 more people to leave the enclave on Friday despite the fighting.

The UN children's agency Unicef is sending representatives to assess the needs of evacuees in temporary shelters in Damascus.

A Unicef spokeswoman said its current response plan could deal with up to 50,000 people.