Turkey, Jordan ask for help with refugees

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DAMASCUS, Syria, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Countries bordering Syria have asked the United Nations Security Council for help with the growing number of refugees coming from Syria.

Turkey and Jordan told 15-nation Council Thursday that they need help coping with an influx of Syrian refugees, Voice of America reported.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said his country has already spent about $300 million building 11 refugee camps, adding Turkey is now hosting 80,000 and can take in only about 20,000 more people.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh also asked for help, saying his country has limited means to handle the more than 70,000 refugees inside its borders.

Meanwhile, as fighting between Syrian troops and opposition forces continued this week, President Bashar Assad on Wednesday ignored a Turkish proposal for refugee zones inside his country.