UN envoy visits refugee camps

UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations-Arab League Joint Special Representative for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi on Tuesday visited two refugee camps in Turkey and Jordan along the border with Syria, a UN spokesman told reporters.

Brahimi went to the Altinoz camp in Turkey and the Za'atari camp in Jordan, said Martin Nesirky, spokesperson to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, at a daily briefing.

"Mr Brahimi met Syrian refugees and listened to first-hand accounts of their ordeals," he said.

Nesirky also said Brahimi "was deeply moved by what he saw and heard and promised to convey an accurate picture of their plight to all those whom he will meet at the United Nations in New York, where he will be next week".

Altinoz camp is located in South Turkey in Hatay Province, whereas Za'atari refugee camp is located in Mafraq, Jordan and reportedly houses more than 25,000 people.

Prior to his visit, Brahimi received a briefing by UN agencies and government officials about the current conditions in both camps.

UN-Arab League peace envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi (2nd L) is escorted by Turkish officials and Syrian refugees during his visit to the Altinoz refugee camp in South Turkish in Hatay province Sept 18, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

Syrian refugees gather to protest against giving the Syrian regime a new deadline, during a visit by UN-Arab League peace envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahim at the Za'atari refugee camp in the Jordanian city of Mafraq, near the border with Syria, Sept 18, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]