Strongheart: The Worst Humanitarian Crisis In the World Today

Syria crisis: Fast facts

12 million Syrians have fled their homes because of conflict;half are children.
4 million Syrians are refugees; most are in Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan.
Children affected by the Syrian conflict are at risk of becoming ill, malnourished, abused, or exploited. Millions have been forced to quit school.
More than 700,000 Syrian refugees and other migrants risked their lives this year to travel to Europe.

After more than four years of conflict, what’s so urgent now?

Winter is coming: Refugees in settlements have fewer resources than ever before. They need adequate food, warm clothes, shoes, blankets, heaters, and fuel.

Despite rain and cold, the human tide of refugees is still coming; every day, thousands more attempt sea crossings to reach Europe.

More than 3,200 have perished this year, including Aylan, a little Syrian boy whose photo touched hearts around the world.

More: A Google map perspective of a refugee’s
foot journey from Syria to Serbia

Why Syrians are fleeing: Three reasons

Violence: Since the Syrian civil war began, more than 240,000 people have been killed, including 12,000 children. One million more have been wounded or permanently disabled. The war has become more deadly since foreign powers joined the conflict.
Collapsed infrastructure: Within Syria, healthcare, education systems, and other infrastructure have been destroyed; the economy is shattered. An estimated 4.8 million people are in areas of Syria that are difficult to access because of the conflict. It’s hard for aid groups to reach them.
Children’s safety: Syrian children — the nation’s hope for a better future — have lost loved ones, suffered injuries, missed years of schooling, and witnessed violence and brutality. Warring parties forcibly recruit children to serve as fighters, human shields, and in support roles, according to the U.S. State Department.