Europe has "rediscovered its humanity" as it grapples with the Syrian refugee crisis, according to the UN's refugee agency.

The continent is facing its largest humanitarian crisis since the end of World War II, as bloody conflicts in Syria, Iraq and beyond send hundreds of thousands of desperate people on dangerous voyages through the Balkans and across the Mediterranean to the 28-nation European Union.

Speaking to the ABC in Geneva, UNHCR spokesman William Spindler said it was "not unrealistic" to expect a breakthrough that would forge a coordinated and compassionate continent-wide response to the crisis.

"We are seeing a shift in public opinion in recent days," he said.

"We have seen this extraordinary outpouring of sympathy for refugees. Citizens all over Europe or coming forward helping the refugees, literally opening their homes to them. This was unthink-

able a few weeks ago.

"Europe has rediscovered its humanity and we are hoping that there will be a breakthrough. We don't think that this is unrealistic."

Public sympathy towards refugees was galvanised last week when photos of a drowned Syrian toddler on a beach in Turkey went viral.

Migrants arriving by train in the German city of Munich have been welcomed by locals who have cheered them and handed out food and bottles of water.

Mr Spindler conceded the idea of mandatory quotas was dividing Europe, but said each country needed to bear its fair share of the burden.

Meanwhile, Brazil President Dilma Rousseff on Monday said her country will welcome Syrian refugees with "open arms," as various Latin American nations sought to help with the human tidal wave fleeing the war-torn country.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered his foreign ministry to take steps to receive 20,000 Syrians in the country.