Jordan and the U.N.'s refugee agency issued an urgent call to international donors on Saturday for $700 million to handle the rapidly rising number of Syrian refugees seeking safe haven in the country. According to AP, Jordanian Planning Minister Jafaar Hassan said the money would be used to assist 240,000 refugees and other Syrians in Jordan. He said they are an added drain on the country's already overburdened water and energy resources. Some 5,000 Syrians crossed into Jordan in a 24-hour period earlier this week, adding to the more than 180,000 living in the kingdom to escape their homeland's civil war. Jordan is the largest host of Syrians in the region. UNHCR representative Andrew Harper said many more are expected to come.
