The Syrian refugee crisis remains one of the largest refugee and displacement crises of our time. Let’s break this topic down — in photos and videos.
Since the conflict in Syria began on March 15, 2011, families have suffered under ongoing brutal conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people, torn the nation apart, and set back the standard of living by decades.
The situation worsened as the COVID-19 pandemic drove at least 1.1 million Syrian refugees and displaced people into poverty.
Extreme cold is making life even harder, especially for children.
We entered the 13th year of the Syrian refugee crisis on March 15, 2024.
Still, about 6.3 million Syrians are refugees.
The majority of Syria’s refugees, about 5.5 million, have fled — by land and sea — across borders to neighboring countries but remain in the Middle East.
Another 7.2 million people are displaced within Syria.
In 2024, an estimated 16.7 million people in Syria need humanitarian assistance.
About half of the people affected by the Syrian refugee crisis are children.
June 20 is the United Nations–sanctioned World Refugee Day, a time to show the world that we stand with refugees.
But Syrians deserve to be remembered every day of the year.
World Vision has been working in the Middle East for nearly 40 years.
In 2023, World Vision reached over 2.3 million people as part of our Syria response. World Vision has served in the Middle East region for nearly four decades.
In Syria, we’re providing healthcare, emergency food, shelter repair kits, and clean water, sanitation, and hygiene behavior change support. We’re also operating Child-Friendly Spaces and child protection training.
In Iraq, we’re providing food aid, health services, clean water and sanitation, and livelihood training. Children receive education, recreation, and programs in life skills, peacebuilding, and resilience.