Syrian forces, backed by the Russian Air Force, appear to be ready for a battle to retake Syria's Idlib Province from opposition forces. Aid organizations and neighboring countries are bracing for an influx of hundreds of thousands of refugees. After 7 years of war, the ongoing conflict in Syria has had the greatest impact on its neighboring countries. CGTN's Stephanie Freid brings us this report from Sarhan, Jordan on the border with Syria.

HASSAN SARHAN JORDAN-SYRIA BORDER "We were sleeping in here, when there was a crash. They were bombing in Syria. I ran to the kitchen - the ceiling had collapsed. I grabbed the kids and ran - I thought we were under attack so I escaped with the children."

Collateral damage. Dozens of houses here have been marred by bombing next door. This town has been feeling the effects of the war next-door for years - 40% of the community is now made up of refugees. There's stiff competition for jobs and the basics: water, food and medical care. The refugee influx has quadrupled property values.

STEPHANIE FREID SARHAN JORDAN "In June, when Syrian and Russian forces launched a campaign to oust opposition from Daraa which is a few kilometers from here, tens of thousands of Syrians fled their homes hoping to get into Jordan. But Jordan's government had a 'no more refugee policy' which meant they weren't opening the gates."

Global cuts to donor aid translate into cold calculation: Jordan's government can't afford to take in any more refugees. So the tens of thousands camped out along the border in the searing, summer heat.

KHALEF AL ASSEM MAYOR, SARHAN JORDAN "The situation was very bad. No food. No water. No whatever."

Locals - like this family who also suffered collateral damage - brought food and water to the stranded Syrians. They were sympathetic - as long as the outsiders stayed on the other side of the wall. The Syrians eventually returned home. If, as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warns, the impending Idlib assault amounts to human catastrophe, that may not be an option.

STEPHANIE FREID, CGTN, SARHAN, JORDAN.