Saudi Arabia says it has received 2.5 million Syrians

With the rising exodus of Syrians from their strife-torn nation, Saudi Arabia said it has received 2.5 million Syrians since the beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2011.

Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported late Friday that the Syrians have not been treated as refugees but have been given the freedom to move across the country, a foreign ministry statement said.

The Syrians have been given residency permits, which give them the right to receive free medical care, to join the labour market and to attend schools and universities, Xinhua news agency reported.

And it was contained in a royal decree in 2012 that instructed public schools to accept Syrian students. According to government statistics, the public school system has accepted more than 100,000 Syrian students, the statement said.

Moreover, aid provided by Saudi Arabia to Syrians in and outside camps totals around $700 mn.

Saudi Arabia's announcement came as the migrants' crisis in Europe deepens and the world urging the Gulf states to do more to deal with the increasing number of Syrian refugees who are fleeing their home country.