200 Syrians Flee Idlib Province to Turkey

Some 200 Syrians fled to Turkey on Saturday, bringing to nearly 16,000 the number who have crossed the border to escape an ongoing government crackdown, Turkish Anatolia news agency said Sunday.

The refugees, including women and children, crossed into Hatay province from Syria's northwest Idlib province, where government troops have launched a crackdown on rebels.

The refugees have been given shelter in six camps that have been set up for them along the border, Anatolia said.

Two more camps, capable of housing 13,000 and 20,000 refugees, are currently being set up in the Kilis and Sanliurfa provinces, in southeastern Turkey.

Meanwhile Turkey's health ministry announced on Sunday it was setting up a field hospital to treat refugees in Islahiye, Gaziantep province, near the Syrian border.

The hospital will be ready within three days, Anatolia said, quoting Ufuk Diri, the ministry's emergency response coordinator.