Number of Syrian refugees in Turkey tops 50,000

The rate of refugee flows has risen and there are fears there could be an exodus from Syria's biggest city Aleppo, where there is heavy fighting between President Bashar al-Assad's forces and rebel fighters.

There were 50,227 Syrians in Turkey as of Thursday, after 2,219 people crossed the border on Aug 8-9, the state-run Disaster and Emergency Administration said in a statement.

The refugees are housed at nine camps in four Turkish provinces along the Syrian border.

The 17-month uprising against Assad's rule in Syria has created a refugee crisis in Turkey and other neighbouring countries. Turkey is worried that a flood of refugees could overwhelm its ability to care for them.

Opposition sources say at least 18,000 people have been killed since the revolt began in Syria in March 2011.