( CNN ) -- Violence in recent weeks has prompted a `` slow but steady exodus '' of Christians from the Iraqi cities of Baghdad and Mosul , the U.N. refugee agency said on Friday . The trend started after a Baghdad church attack on October 31 and subsequent targeted attacks of Christians in Baghdad and Mosul . The total death toll at Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad was 70 , and 53 of the people killed in the strike were Christians , a minority group in a predominantly Muslim nation . U.N. offices in Syria , Jordan and Lebanon are reporting a growing number of Iraqi Christian arrivals . The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said Baghdad and Mosul Christians have been headed to other destinations in Iraq , such as the Kurdish region and the Nineveh Plains , a region in the north with a strong Christian presence . `` We have heard many accounts of people fleeing their homes after receiving direct threats . Some were able to take only a few belongings with them , '' the agency said in a statement . `` Churches and NGOs are warning us to expect more people fleeing in the coming weeks . '' In Syria , since November , about 133 families , or 300 people , have registered with UNHCR , `` the majority of whom fled Iraq following the October church attack in Baghdad . '' In Jordan , the number of registrations of Christians during October and November doubled from the same period last year . In September , 57 Christians had been registered and the figure rose to 98 and 109 in October and November respectively . `` One man who is now registered with UNHCR in Jordan narrowly escaped the attack , having left the church minutes before the bombing took place . This refugee had been deported from Europe just days beforehand , '' the statement said . Because of the recent hostilities , the agency urges `` countries to refrain from deporting Iraqis who originate from the most perilous parts of the country . '' UNHCR said it was `` dismayed '' that Sweden on Wednesday forcibly returned a group of some 20 Iraqis , five of whom were Christians from Baghdad . `` One of the Christian men said he escaped Iraq in 2007 after militiamen directly threatened to kill him . Fearing for his life , he traveled through several countries in the Middle East and Europe before reaching Sweden where he applied for asylum . `` He said his claim was rejected three times in 2008 and that his claims were not accepted as he was not considered to have been personally targeted . The others we spoke to said their asylum claims were rejected on the basis of improved security conditions in Iraq . '' UNHCR said asylum seekers from Baghdad , Diyala , Nineveh , Salaheddin and Kirkuk provinces should n't be returned by other countries and should get some form of protection . The agency said that despite Iraq 's efforts to protect minority groups and their places of worship and an overall decrease in civilian casualties , these people are `` increasingly susceptible to threats and attacks . '' `` Our position reflects the volatile security situation and the still high level of violence , security incidents , and human rights violations taking place in parts of Iraq . UNHCR considers that serious -- including indiscriminate -- threats to life , physical integrity or freedom resulting from violence or events seriously disturbing public order are valid reasons for international protection , '' the U.N. agency said .
Growing number of arrivals in nearby countries . Christians are also heading to Kurdish region , Nineveh Plains . U.N. says fleeing Christians need international protection .