8 Terrifying Facts About The Syrian Crisis, Including Ways You Can Help The Refugees

The crisis in Syria, otherwise known as "The Arab Spring" has just entered it's fifth year of war. Here are eight shocking facts about the destruction that has occurred since then. Also included are ways that you can help save Syrian refugees and aid those being affected by the crisis in Syria. The crisis has resulted in a gruesome amount of human rights violations and we must start taking action.

1. More than 470,000 people have been killed

CNN / Via nytimes.com

"The report from the Syrian Center for Policy Research said that at least 470,000 Syrians had died as a result of the war, almost twice the 250,000 counted a year and a half ago by the United Nations until it stopped counting because of a lack of confidence in the data.

Life expectancy has dropped 14 years, to 56 from 70, since the war began, with an even deeper plunge for Syrian men, says the report, which the group compiled from its longtime base in the capital, Damascus. It put the war's economic cost at $255 billion, essentially wiping out the nation's wealth."-New York Times

2. 5 people are killed in Syria every hour

AFP / Getty / Via amnestyusa.org

"In all, 11.5 percent of Syria’s population has been wounded or killed since 2011, according to the SCPR analysis. The vast majority of deaths were caused by violence, while 70,000 came as an indirect result of the war — the collapse of the country’s health-care infrastructure, lack of access to medicine, poor sanitation, the spread of communicable diseases, falling vaccination rates, food scarcity and malnutrition. Another 1.88 million Syrians have been injured." -PBS

3. More than 11 million people have been forced from their homes

Business Insider / Via amnestyusa.org

"Refugees didn't just escape a place. They had to escape a thousand memories until they'd put enough time and distance between them and their misery to wake to a better day." - Nadia Hashimi, When the Moon is Low

4. 35 people have 'disappeared' every day

Omar Sanadiki / Reuters / Via amnestyusa.org

"According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, approximately 65,000 people have been arrested by government security forces and are now missing in a network of unofficial detention centers. Others have been jailed for helping people forced from their homes by the fighting, or for speaking out about the situation in Syria. Lawyers, doctors and journalists have been locked up just for doing their jobs."-Amnesty International

5. More than 21,000 children have been killed

BBC / Via sn4hr.org

"'Six rockets fell just in front of me, me and my friend,' the first boy says. He speaks directly to the camera, rocking on his bike.

A little girl says she has seen many dead bodies.

'When there is an attack, bodies are brought to my school,' she explains. 'My dad helps with the burials.'"-NPR

6. Between 2-3 million Syrian children are not attending school

Via worldvision.org

"According to the U.N. children's agency, the Syrian war has reversed 10 years of progress in education for Syrian children."-World Vision

7. More than 6,500 barrel bombs have been dropped on Syria

Tumblr / Via sn4hr.org

"Barrel bombs are metal cylinders packed with high explosives and pieces of shrapnel. These weapons, which have no targeting or guidance mechanisms, are simply rolled out of helicopters as they [the Syrian military] fly over rebel-held towns and villages."-Telegraph

8. 13.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Syria

nrk.no / Via worldvision.org

"Thousands of Syrians flee their country every day. They often decide to finally escape after seeing their neighborhoods bombed or family members killed. The risks on the journey to the border can be as high as staying: Families walk for miles through the night to avoid being shot at by snipers or being caught by soldiers who will kidnap young men to fight for the regime."-Mercy Corps

How YOU Can Help Save Syrian Refugees

There are many amazing organizations providing shelter, medical care, food, and supplies to the people displaced by the Syrian crisis. You can help by clicking on any of the below links and donating to the cause:

Doctors without Borders

World Vision

Care.org

Concern USA

Save The Children

Unicef USA

Mercy Corps

Oxfam

Just Giving