Kuwait says the U.N. chief has urged authorities here to host another donors' conference for Syrian humanitarian relief as needs swell for refugees and other civilians caught in the civil war.

Kuwait hosted a gathering in January that raised more than $1.5 billion in aid, but relief agencies say demands are rising rapidly.

The U.N. says more than 4.2 million people are displaced within Syria and 2 million have fled to other countries in the region.

The official Kuwait News Agency reported on Wednesday that the country's emir, Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, was encouraged by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to arrange another conference.

It says the two spoke late Tuesday in New York.

Kuwait's Gulf Arab allies are key backers of rebels seeking to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad.