Amman: Ten policemen were injured in a clash with demonstrators in the Syrian refugee camp of Za’atari in northern Jordan, a security official said on Saturday. The source, declining to be named, said two of the policemen were in serious condition after the clash on Friday night. Violence broke out as 100 refugees held a protest against living conditions in Za’atari, home to more than 160,000 Syrians who have fled the bloodshed in their country, and a ban on leaving the desert camp near the border with Syria.

Jordan says it is hosting more than 500,000 Syrian refugees and the United Nations High Commissioner expects the number to soar to 1.2 million by the end of this year — equivalent to a fifth of the kingdom’s population.

On April 15, Jordan said the impact of the war in Syria was a threat to its security and that Amman would seek the United Nations Security Council’s help in tackling the fallout.