Cairo, Rajab 28, 1434, Jun 7, 2013, SPA -- The UN Security Council urged Syria on Friday to allow unfettered and safe humanitarian access to assist civilians, after aid agencies appealed for an unprecedented 5 billion dollars to help those affected by the 26-month-old conflict, dpa reported. Mark Lyall Grant, British ambassador and president of the Security Council, said this was the first statement in many months from the council. "It's a sign that perhaps the Security Council is coming back together a little bit on the Syrian issue," he said. The United Nations and other aid agencies appealed for 5 billion dollars to help Syrians in their country and in the region this year in what amounted to the largest humanitarian fund drive in history. The number of Syrian refugees was expected to more than double to 3.45 million by the end of 2013, from a current 1.6 million, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said. About 6.8 million people in Syria would also need aid, according to the UN refugee agency. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said it had sent "urgent food aid" for 2,500 people in the Syrian town of al-Kussair, and indicated that the UN expected its entire humanitarian efforts for the Syrian crisis to cost 4.4 billion dollars this year. -- SPA 20:47 LOCAL TIME 17:47 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1118083