EU issues appeal for Syrian refugees

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BRUSSELS, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- European members states are called on to respond to an "exceptional" humanitarian crisis resulting from Syrian civil war, members of Parliament said.

Spanish Member of the European Parliament Juan Fernando Lopez Aguila led a delegation to the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan about 7 miles from the Syrian border.

The camp houses about 70,000 refugees. The U.N. Refugee Agency estimates that more than 250,000 Syrian refugees are either registered or awaiting registration as refugees in Jordan.

Aguilar said he was "deeply concerned" about the toll the Syrian war was having on its neighbors. Jordan was lauded for its assistance but more help was needed from members of the European Union.

"We ask on the EU and its member states to continue providing support to respond to this exceptional humanitarian crisis, which is worsening by the day," he said in a statement.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh met this week in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

"While we have taken the political decision ... to keep our borders open to receive those Syrian brothers and sisters who are escaping these harsh and horrific realities on the ground, it does not come without a toll on our already drained and burdened economy," Judeh said.

The United Nations said as many as 70,000 people have died as a result of Syrian war that's moving closer to its second year.