Violence continues to escalate in Damascus. (Creative Commons)

The Associated Press said the number is more likely to hit around 200,000, as the U.N. refugee count includes only registered refugees and those waiting to be registered.

In the past 17 months, the total number of Syrians living in neighboring countries amounts to 234,368. The U.N. agency reports 80,000 sought refuge in Turkey, with 8,000 awaiting processing. Jordan has 77,000 refugees, Lebanon in excess of 59,000 and Iraq with 18,700.

As violence continues to surge in the two major cities of Damascus and Aleppo, the month of August also reached a death toll high, with 5,000 dead. 

Read the full story at the Associated Press.

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