David Cameron has visited camps in Lebanon and Jordan to meet Syrian refugees who have fled their country's civil war.
The Prime Minister has called on other EU countries to "step up to the plate" and follow Britain's lead by funding refugee camps around Syria.
Mr Cameron said there was a "direct connection" between shortfalls in aid for camps in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey and the influx of migrants into Europe.
More than 40 councils across Britain have offered support after Labour leadership contender Yvette Cooper appealed on authorities to take Syrian refugees.
Cooper, who has said Britain should take in 10,000 people from the war-torn country, praised councils for showing a "rising sense of moral purpose".
The shadow home secretary said the responses had come within just 24 hours of her writing to councils across England.
She said the government should now work with councils to offer more places - hours after Prime Minister David Cameron pledged "thousands" more would be allowed into the UK.
Cooper had previously said that Britain could take 10,000 refugees if every London borough and council across Scotland, Wales and England played their part.
On a visit to Jordan, David Cameron says that the EU must "follow Britain's lead" and fund more refugee camps around Syria.
The prime minister has insisted the UK will not participate in plans to redistribute 160,000 refugees who have arrived in Europe.
Train traffic with Austria suspended as German authorities seek to reduce the number of asylum seekers arriving in the country.