The heartbreaking image of a drowned Syrian toddler, three-year-old Aylan Kurdi who was making his way to Greece with his family when their boat capsized, was a very real portrayal of the plight of Syrians and sparked new discussion about the refugee crisis in Europe.
The civil war in Syria, which aid agency Mercy Corps describes as “the worst humanitarian disaster of our time," has displaced nearly seven million Syrians — and four million of them have sought refuge in numerous countries.
Syrians have fled in large numbers to Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt, and others plan to eventually travel to Europe and North America. Germany, Sweden, Italy and France are among countries that have received the highest number of asylum applications.
Watch this video for a simple explanation of important facts about the Syrian refugee crisis:
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