BEIRUT: More than 600 Syrian refugees registered with the United Nations and the Lebanese Higher Relief Committee over the past week, the largest number in a single week since the uprising began.

There are now 6,290 refugees registered with the two bodies, a report from the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said Friday, the majority in the Wadi Khaled and Tripoli areas.

The report emphasizes that the number reflects not new arrivals, but significant numbers of people who have been in the country for some time registering with the agencies.

The report also highlights increased security concerns of late following, among other incidents, an attack on three Lebanese fisherman, leading to the death of one, bullets fired toward Wadi Khaled and the arrival of more wounded Syrians across the border.

Also this week, the U.N. began its monthly distribution of food, hygiene kits, milk, winter clothes coupons, toys and fuel.

The U.N. said this week it was unable to keep count of the number of deaths in Syria as a result of the uprising, which has already topped 5,400.

Meanwhile, in what has become a weekly practice, worshippers staged a demonstration following Friday prayers in support of Syria’s uprising from the Hamza Mosque in the Qibbeh neighborhood of Tripoli to the nearby Ibn Sina Square.

Demonstrators chanted slogans against Syrian President Bashar Assad and the ruling Baath Party and set ablaze the flags of Russia and China because of their support for the Syrian regime, as well as the flag of Hezbollah.

Delivering Friday’s sermon at the mosque, Sheikh Zakaria Masri lashed out at Syria’s Baath Party which he accused of “believing in atheism,” and of attempting to impose its religion on the Syrian people.

Addressing Lebanese authorities, Masri asked about the fate of a number of Islamists who are in Lebanese prisons. “We ask about the young Muslim people who have been under arrest by the Lebanese authorities for several years, despite the fact that some have proven to be innocent,” he said. “Does the Interior Ministry want them to remain detained in order to satisfy Tehran and Washington?” he asked.

Also, Masri warned officials against harassing or detaining any of the several thousand Syrian refugees in Lebanon, citing rumors about authorities’ intentions to deport them back to Syria. “The honorable Lebanese people will not forgive the state for this [if it happens],” said Masri.

Also in Tripoli, another demonstration in support of Syrian protesters was organized by Hizb ut-Tahrir after Friday prayers.