REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, VIENNA -- Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs Sebastian Kurz on Wednesday called for increased funding from his government to help Syria's neighboring countries in light of the ongoing refugee crisis.

"An increase in not only the European, but also Austrian contribution is needed," he told the Austria Press Agency.

Kurz said financial aid would be much more efficient and lasting if given to neighboring countries, and added that a "system change toward more help locally" is required.

He said the estimated 420 million euros (470 million U.S. dollars) that it costs to cater for 80,000 refugees in Austria for the current year could help 1.5 million people in Turkey, and even more in other countries.

He said Austria needed to be more engaged in that region, and hoped discussions at the informal EU meeting of heads of state or government in Brussels on Wednesday evening would also lead to a similar conclusion.

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