US Secretary of State John Kerry has visited the sprawling Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees. Source: AAP
US Secretary of State John Kerry has visited the sprawling Zaatari camp home to tens of thousands of Syrian refugees to see at first-hand the tragedy of the conflict.
Kerry first overflew the vast camp by helicopter, surveying hundreds of tents and trailers lined up on the desert sand about 20 kilometres from the Syrian border.
Kerry said his visit had "put a real human face" on the situation, describing his conversations with refugees and officials at the camp as "searing and unforgettable".
He met with half dozen refugees, two men and four women, for 40 minutes.
They expressed anger and repeatedly asked Kerry to establish buffer and no-fly zones in Syria.
"Where is the international community? What are you waiting for? We hope that you will not go back to the United States before you find a solution to the crisis. At least impose a no-fly zone or an embargo," said a refugee woman who did not give her name.
A grim-faced Kerry replied: "A lot of different options are under consideration. I wish it was very simple. As you know, we've been fighting two wars for 12 years.
"We are trying to help in various ways, including helping Syrian opposition fighters have weapons. We are doing new things. There is consideration of buffer zones and other things but it is not as simple as it sounds."
The same woman picked up a pen, waved it in the air and tapped it on the table as she spoke.
"Mr Secretary if the situation remains unchanged until the end of Ramadan this camp will become empty. We will return to Syria and we will fight with knives. You as the US government look to Israel with respect. Cannot you do the same with the children of Syria?" she asked.
The refugees also urged the international community to help put a halt to the flow of weapons from Iran and influx of Lebanese Hezbollah fighters into Syria.
The Red Cross said last week 150,000 Syrian refugees live in Zaatari, a figure backed by Jordanian officials.
Thousands of people flee the fighting across the Jordanian-Syrian border every night and most end up at the camp, built in July 2012.
Nearly 1.8 million people are now registered with the United Nations in countries around Syria and an average of 6000 people a day are fleeing, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said earlier this week.
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