Refugees: From Syria to Somalia, tales of displacement - News from Al Jazeera. The UN refugee agency says persecution and conflict in places such as Syria and Afghanistan raised the total number of refugees and internally displaced people worldwide to a record 65.3 million at the end of last year.
The previous year, 2014, had already seen the highest number of refugees worldwide since World War II, with 60 million displaced people. But last year - when Lebanon, Turkey and European countries staggered under the arrival of large numbers of refugees - topped that record by nearly 10 percent, the UNHCR said on Monday, in the unveiling of its annual Global Trends Report. The Geneva-based body urged leaders from Europe and elsewhere to do more to end the wars fanning the exodus of people from their homelands. "I hope that the message carried by those forcibly displaced reaches the leaderships: We need action, political action, to stop conflicts," said Filippo Grandi, the UN high commissioner for refugees. OPINION: A philosophical approach to the refugee crisis. Fleeing Terror, Finding Refuge. What happens when you become a war refugee?
You walk. True, in order to save your life—for example, as militants assault your village—you might first speed away by whatever conveyance possible. Quick facts: What you need to know about the Syria crisis. Editor's note: This article was originally published August 13, 2013; it was updated March 9, 2017 to reflect the latest information.
Donate ▸ Syria’s civil war has created the worst humanitarian crisis of our time. Half the country’s pre-war population — more than 11 million people — have been killed or forced to flee their homes. Families are struggling to survive inside Syria, or make a new home in neighboring countries. Others are risking their lives on the way to Europe, hoping to find acceptance and opportunity. But one fact is simple: millions of Syrians need our help. You can help. Sign a petition: Tell Congress to support aid for refugees ▸ So take a few minutes to understand the magnitude of this crisis. When did the crisis start? By July, army defectors had loosely organized the Free Syrian Army and many civilian Syrians took up arms to join the opposition. Syria crisis fast facts and overview of the refugee situation. Syria crisis: Fast facts 13.5 million people in Syria need humanitarian assistance.14.6 million Syrians are refugees, and 6.6 million are displaced within Syria; half are children.2 Read an open letter from Syrian children.Most Syrian refugees remain in the Middle East, in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt; about 10 percent of the refugees have fled to Europe.3Children affected by the Syrian conflict are at risk of becoming ill, malnourished, abused, or exploited.
Millions have been forced to quit school. Why are Syrians fleeing their homes? Violence: Since the Syrian civil war began, 320,000 people have been killed, including nearly 12,000 children. What are the refugees’ greatest needs? Syrians fleeing conflict need all the basics to sustain their lives: food, clothing, health assistance, shelter, and household and hygiene items.They need reliable supplies of clean water, as well as sanitation facilities.Children need a safe environment and a chance to play and go to school. Why Are People Fleeing Syria? 9 Horrific Facts, Photos That Explain The Syrian Refugee Crisis.
After a series of terror attacks carried out by the Islamic State group in Paris wounded and killed hundreds, some European and U.S. lawmakers responded by vowing to make it tougher for Syrians fleeing four years of civil war to relocate.
The refugees have flooded Europe in recent months in search of stability and peace as their country has devolved into chaos and violence, partly because of ISIS. U.S. President Barack Obama said Thursday the “overwhelming numbers” of Syrians seeking to enter the U.S. “are children, women, families — themselves victims of terrorism.” He continued: "The idea that somehow they pose a more significant threat than all the tourists who pour into the United States every single day just doesn’t jibe with reality. " Syria has been plagued with violence for four years throughout a bloody civil war. Residents run from a fire at a gasoline and oil shop in Aleppo's Bustan Al-Qasr neighborhood, Oct. 20, 2013. Syrian Refugees. Syria: The story of the conflict. Image copyright Getty Images More than 250,000 Syrians have lost their lives in four-and-a-half years of armed conflict, which began with anti-government protests before escalating into a full-scale civil war.
More than 11 million others have been forced from their homes as forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and those opposed to his rule battle each other - as well as jihadist militants from so-called Islamic State. This is the story of the civil war so far, in eight short chapters. 1. Uprising turns violent Pro-democracy protests erupted in March 2011 in the southern city of Deraa after the arrest and torture of some teenagers who painted revolutionary slogans on a school wall.
The unrest triggered nationwide protests demanding President Assad's resignation. Opposition supporters eventually began to take up arms, first to defend themselves and later to expel security forces from their local areas.