Emergencies , Syrian Refugee Crisis

Syria Crisis

After five years of war, fighting in Syria has reportedly killed more than 270,000 people. More than four million people have fled the country and 6.6 million are displaced in Syria. More than half are children.

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Syria conflict explained

Now in it's sixth year, conflict in Syria has left more than four million refugees seeking shelter in neighbouring countries, and countless more struggling to reach safety in Europe. An increasing number of those fleeing the Syrian conflict are unaccompanied children. 

Fran Charles, Advocacy Director for World Vision’s Syria Response, said World Vision staff were working in an increasingly restricted humanitarian space, meaning greater difficulty in reaching children and families with the assistance they so desperately need.

“The international community must step up and use all diplomatic influence at its disposal to ensure these attacks stop and children and families can access lifesaving assistance,” she said. “International borders must also remain open for those fleeing conflict.”

Syrians are fleeing a protracted conflict in their country that has so far claimed more than 270,000 lives, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor which relies on a large network of doctors and activist sources. The Syrian Centre for Policy Research, however, estimates that 470,000 have died. 13.5 million people inside Syria need humanitarian assistance. Of those, more than 5.6 million are children.

Read the latest World Vision Syria Crisis Response Annual Report here. 

What is World Vision doing to respond to the Syria crisis?

In Lebanon

we've helped 1.2m people by:

- providing remedial classes and safe spaces for children to help them catch-up on lost classroom time and restore a sense of normality
- installing water tanks and toilets in makeshift settlements to ensure access to clean water and sanitation
- distributing food vouchers and essential supplies like nappies, cooking equipment and winter clothing

In Jordan

we've reached 600,000 people by:

- providing basic supplies like food, nappies and winter clothing
- constructing water and sanitation facilities to meet the urgent sanitation needs of more than 50,000 people in Azraq, the refugee camp built to support the overflow at Za’atari
- rehabilitating roads and drainage at Za’atari refugee camp to keep families safe and dry
- providing remedial classes and child-friendly spaces, helping children catch up on lost classroom time and restore a sense of normality

In Syria

we've helped 300,000 people by:

- establishing or improving access to clean water, sanitation and health care, to keep children healthy and hygienic
- distributing food and winter essentials