Hope and a Future: The Story of Syrian Refugees

Book excerpt: When the Syrian uprising began in March 2011, no one envisioned mass atrocities on the scale we are witnessing today. Today, more than half of the Syrian population has been displaced, a phenomenon almost without precedent in human history. Images of starving civilians trapped in besieged cities have outraged the human conscience. Thousands of children have been slain by barrel bombs, landmines and chlorine gas. These numbers are a shameful indictment on humanity. Yet, there is hope. Each day, in refugee camps across the Middle East, aid workers, seeking neither recognition nor reward, sacrifice their comfort to bring Syrian refugees relief. This book, tracking the author's travels to Syrian refugee camps and informal tented settlements in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq, answers that burning question on so many people's minds: How can I help? The author shows that there is a role anyone can play in making a lasting, positive impact on Syrian refugees and restoring dignity to their lives.