Syria's ballooning refugee crisis: How bad will it get?

Record numbers of Syrian civilians, many of them children, are racing for the war-torn country's borders

Two Syrian children lay on a handmade swing in front of their tent at the Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan on Sept. 2: The camp was originally built to hold 500 people. Now it has 26,000.
(Image credit: AP photo/Mohammad Hannon)

The flow of refugees out of Syria spiked to record levels in August, as civilians struggled to escape the government's escalating bombing campaign against rebel forces. But there aren't enough camps to take everyone in, and thousands of refugees have been forced to wait at border crossings before they can reach the safety of neighboring countries such as Turkey and Jordan. Meanwhile, tensions are rising in border regions, where residents fear being overwhelmed by the flood of people seeking asylum. Is there any relief in sight? Here, a brief guide:

How much is the Syrian exodus growing?

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