As Syrian officials make plans for the constitutional referendum scheduled for later this month, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said they are preparing for a worsening Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon. From Beirut, F.S.R.N.'s David Ender's reports. The announcement of the referendum comes at a time when violence plagues a number of Syrian cities, particularly those along the Lebanese border. Syrian government troops have been showing the city of Homs for two weeks, and the Syrian army has reportedly invaded neighborhoods in the city of Hama, north of Homs, as well. Syrian citizens, despite difficulties, continue to flee to Lebanon. The UN Refugee Agency has registered more than 6,000 Syrian refugees in Beirut and northern Lebanon. Officials estimate that another two to three thousand are now living in the Baka Valley in eastern Lebanon. Astrid Vangender in Stort is the UNHCR's Senior Protection Officer in Beirut. First of all, more than 90% are housed in host families, which is also the key point. We are wondering when we reached a saturation point because it is very tough to host families for such a long time. We had expected a much larger influx and more registration after what has been happening in Homs and it didn't come. Now, does this mean that the people didn't come? Why didn't there be people that moved inside Syria to other places? But the refugee problem may be even worse. Lebanese activists who have formed a coalition of NGOs to aid refugees estimate the number of Syrians that have fled to Lebanon since mass demonstrations against the Syrian government began nearly one year ago could be as high as 20,000. Some do not register with the UN because they don't need aid. Others avoid registering out of fear of being identified. Abu Mahmoud left the village of Tal Khalek on the Lebanese Syrian border with his family nine months ago. It is very hard here, but you get used to it. Sometimes there is work, sometimes there is not. I can't go back until the system has fallen. It's very dangerous. Many of those fleeing the violence need basic aid, like food and water. Abdullah Tassi is a Lebanese doctor from Zahle, about 20 miles west of the Syrian border. He has been active in sending humanitarian supplies into Syria and aiding those who have fled to Lebanon. Tassi described a growing crisis in places like Damascus suburb of Zabidani, which has now seen nearly two weeks of government offensives and temporary ceasefires between government troops and the militiamen, many of whom are army defectors now fighting to protect the movement that grew out of peaceful protests. We have 39 families in Bicar from Zabidani. None of them is accepting to talk to any reporter. This is how bad the situation is. 10 to 20% of the people are there and 80% they escape to Madaya and to Renkous. Fliens Syria has become increasingly difficult. While the Syrian government has reportedly deployed more of its soldiers along its traditionally porous border with Lebanon. There have also been reports the Syrian military has recently laid minds along some parts of the border. Nonetheless, Tassi said the flow of refugees into Bicar had remained consistent, and that activists had begun petitioning the government for permission to build a refugee camp there. David Enders, FSRN, Behrut. Thank you.