A large portion of Syrian civilians chose to leave the country following the Assad regime's violent response to protests in the country. Many began to leave in mid 2012, and the number of refugees resulting from the civil war now totals to more than 5.6 million people. This staggering influx of out-migration continues to display the immense impact of the ongoing Civil War that has rocked the future of Syria with uncertainty. What was once a country with vibrant and historical cities, has turned into a country that cannot support the lives of its own people.

Life as a refugee following the decision to flee the country poses a new set of challenges. Families must try to stay together throughout the turmoil that is navigating to relative safety and a sustainable life. Aside from the extreme diffculties of even finding shelter in a new country, migrants must then worry about the legality of their stay in the country they migrate to, being able to provide for themsleves and family, assimilating into a culture that may be completely foreign to them, language barriers, and financial stability.

Following the departure from Syria, the life of the average refugee does not immediately improve, and often, becomes even more challenging. While they may succeed in their efforts to leave the Civil War that has plagued their home, they now face a slew of new challenges. Refugees may face financial hardships, culture shock, anti-Immigrant policies, seemingly non sympathetic governments, and attitudes across Europe. Money-hungry human smugglers tend to care little for the lives they are entrusted with. The battle to obtain legal working status and even obtain legal living status adds extremely difficult weight to the overall experiences of forced migration. Migrants that flee situations like the one in Syria trade the uncertainty of life in a conflict zone with a new, but potentially difficult and dangerous, life in a new country.

Although many millions make the decision to leave, it is questioned every step along the way. Tarek, the refugee father mentioned prior, was plagued with the fear that his family would not succeed in making the journey to the European Union, and that some would die or be separated along the way. With many migrant boats regularly sinking in the ocean during the journey from Turkey to Greece, this fear was justified. However, the hope of success, both in his case and others, ultimately motivated families to continue on with their journeys to a better life. For many, this bargain worked out, but for an unfortunate minority, the journey to liberation was never achieved, cut short by disaster.

Who are the refugees and where do they go?

Over the past several years, Syrian refugees have dispersed themselves throughout the world.

• Syrian Refugees have to make tough decisions regarding where they should migrate to. Each situation, however, is different then the next. Sometimes migrants do not have much of a voluntary choice on where they will migrate to. The following factors affect the decision to where a migrant will end up: Who do they know or have connections with in other countries (family, friends), How much money, if any do they have at their disposable to support their travels along the way?, What are their means of travel? (bus, car, on foot, on boat, plane)
• The top 8 countries in terms of numbers of Syrian migrants are as follows: Turkey (3.5 million), Lebanon (950,00), Jordan (670,000), Iraq (250,000), Germany (over 600,000), Egypt (130,000), United Arab Emirates (300,000), Saudi Arabia (Ranges from 500,000-1,000,000) Other countries in Europe have received a notable amount as well (Sweden, Hungary, Greece, Croatia, Austria)
• It has also been reported that in the last 3-4 years, hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees have returned to either their original home or resettled somewhere else in Syria
• Many of the Syrian refugees consist of minority groups in Syria that tend to be more likely to be persecuted by the government, ISIS, and other radical groups. These minorities consist of Christians, Shia Muslims, and Yazidis.

Living circumstances in arriving countries

• Refugees live primarily within hosting communities, in rented houses or informal settlements of tents and sub-standard dwellings. Only about 10% live in formal campus. In Lebanon, 85% pay rent, 71% live in residential building
• 12% in non-residential structures (worksites, garages, shops), and 17% in informal tented settlements; a quarter of homes are overcrowded (less than 4.5 square meters per person). In southern Turkey, 96% of the refugees living outside of camps pay rent, 62% live in rented apartments, 28% in unfinished buildings or garages, 1% in tents.