Thousands of refugees escaping violence and persecution travel along the Central Mediterranean Route – from sub-Saharan Africa, through Niger to Libya and some on to Europe. These asylum seekers face the dangers of the world's harshest extreme environments: the sea and the desert.

When he visited Lesbos, actor Mandy Patinkin helped to rescue a girl in a pink coat. The IRC returned to Lesbos to follow her story.

The powerful 7.8 earthquake that struck near northern Syria on Feb. 6 created a "crisis within a crisis" for Syrians already displaced by war. Find out more about what people need and what you can do to help.

Find out how you can help people seeking safety at this critical moment.