War in Syria
Syrians have endured continued violence, deteriorating living conditions, inadequate health care, destroyed schools and infrastructure, and human rights violations for nearly a decade. Most recently, nearly one million civilians have been uprooted from northwest Syria—the largest displacement since the conflict started in 2011.
“Welcome to the age of impunity, where war crimes go unpunished and the laws of war become optional,” says International Rescue Committee President and CEO David Miliband.
As we mark nearly a decade of war, here are nine things to know to help you understand what’s happening in Syria right now:
A Syrian child sleeps in the open at a displacement camp near Turkey's border after fleeing from southern Idlib.
Photo: Photo by AAREF WATAD/AFP
Destroyed buildings in Raqqa governorate. Housing and electricity are limited in Raqqa and the city is littered with unexploded mines.
Photo: Jacob Russell/IRC
9. Here’s how you can help Syrians get through this crisis.
- Support the IRC’s lifesaving work inside Syria. Donate now.
- Share this article. Educate your friends and family about what’s happening in Syria.
- Stand for welcome. Tell your elected representative that they have the power to uphold America’s legacy by passing the GRACE Act, a bill that would ensure the U.S. welcomes no fewer than 95,000 refugees a year.
The IRC in Syria
Across Syria, the International Rescue Committee provides lifesaving support to nearly 1 million people—almost half of them children—who are struggling to survive a brutal war. The IRC supports local medical and health facilities and mobile health teams. We also distribute emergency cash to enable the most vulnerable families to buy food, water, and other essentials. The IRC is also partnering with Sesame Workshop on educational programs to help children inside Syria and across the region recover from the crisis and reach their full potential. Learn more about our work.