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Conflict

What you need to know about the Syrian refugee crisis in photos and videos

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.

Children walk through a landscape of water, makeshift tents, and huge snow-covered mountains dominating the background.

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. For many Syrian children, all they have known is war.

We entered the 15th year of the Syrian refugee crisis on March 15, 2026.

The Syrian refugee crisis is the largest refugee and displacement crisis, affecting 17.6 million people. Let’s break this topic down — in photos and videos.

Still, about 4.9 million Syrians are refugees.

The Syrian refugee crisis is the largest refugee and displacement crisis, affecting 17.6 million people. Let’s break this topic down — in photos and videos.

The majority of Syria’s refugees have fled — by land and sea — across borders to neighboring countries but remain in the Middle East.

The Syrian refugee crisis is the largest refugee and displacement crisis, affecting 17.6 million people. Let’s break this topic down — in photos and videos.

Another 6.5 million people are displaced within Syria.

The Syrian refugee crisis is the largest refugee and displacement crisis, affecting 17.6 million people. Let’s break this topic down — in photos and videos.

In 2026, an estimated 16.5 million people in Syria need humanitarian assistance.

The Syrian refugee crisis is the largest refugee and displacement crisis, affecting 17.6 million people. Let’s break this topic down — in photos and videos.

About half of the people affected by the Syrian refugee crisis are children.

The Syrian refugee crisis is the largest refugee and displacement crisis, affecting 17.6 million people. Let’s break this topic down — in photos and videos.

June 20 is the United Nations–sanctioned World Refugee Day, a time to show the world that we stand with refugees.

The Syrian refugee crisis is the largest refugee and displacement crisis, affecting 17.6 million people. Let’s break this topic down — in photos and videos.

But Syrians deserve to be remembered every day of the year.

The Syrian refugee crisis is the largest refugee and displacement crisis, affecting 17.6 million people. Let’s break this topic down — in photos and videos.

World Vision has been working in the Middle East for nearly 40 years.

The Syrian refugee crisis is the largest refugee and displacement crisis, affecting 17.6 million people. Let’s break this topic down — in photos and videos.

In 2025, World Vision’s programs have aided over 4.2 million people, including more than 2.5 million children.

The Syrian refugee crisis is the largest refugee and displacement crisis, affecting 17.6 million people. Let’s break this topic down — in photos and videos.

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.

The Syrian refugee crisis is the largest refugee and displacement crisis, affecting 17.6 million people. Let’s break this topic down — in photos and videos.

In Jordan and Lebanon, we’re supporting people with food assistance, clean water and sanitation, education and recreation, Child-Friendly Spaces for children and child protection training for adults, livelihood support, and psychosocial support for women and children.

The Syrian refugee crisis is the largest refugee and displacement crisis, affecting 17.6 million people. Let’s break this topic down — in photos and videos.

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.

The Syrian refugee crisis is the largest refugee and displacement crisis, affecting 17.6 million people. Let’s break this topic down — in photos and videos.

Learn more the Syrian refugee crisis and how you can help refugees!

The Syrian refugee crisis is the largest refugee and displacement crisis, affecting 17.6 million people. Let’s break this topic down — in photos and videos.