UNHCR Calls for Funds to Help Syrian Refugees

The United Nations Friday launched an appeal for 84 million dollars (63 million euros) to help Syrian refugees who have fled abroad because of the current fighting.

Turkey has taken in some 17,000 refugees, Lebanon 16,000, Jordan about 8,500, with Iraq welcoming an unknown number, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a statement.

The UNHCR, along with other agencies, said it was already assisting some 110,000 people inside Syria.

But it expects the number of those fleeing abroad to increase and is making contingency plans for looking after 100,000 abroad.