Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

More from Syrian refugee crisis: news and updates

archives
Why Angela Merkel is taking selfies with refugeesWhy Angela Merkel is taking selfies with refugees
archives

The German chancellor spent an afternoon with refugees. She took selfies. Lots of selfies.

By Annett Meiritz
Politics
Donald Trump wants the US to take in Syrian refugees. Wait, what?Donald Trump wants the US to take in Syrian refugees. Wait, what?
Politics

Of course, his own immigration proposal would make that basically impossible.

By Dara Lind
Explainers
We know how to solve the refugee crisis — but it will take more than moneyWe know how to solve the refugee crisis — but it will take more than money
Explainers

We can prevent more children from drowning in the Mediterranean. But we can’t do it by just writing a check.

By Amanda Taub
Syria
9 questions about the refugee crisis you were too embarrassed to ask9 questions about the refugee crisis you were too embarrassed to ask
Syria

Why is this happening now? Why won’t Europe take more? How did things get so bad in Syria?

By Max Fisher and Amanda Taub
The shameful US response to the Syrian refugee crisis, by the numbers
Video

The US likes to think of itself as a safe haven for people fleeing violent conflict, but Syrians have largely found a closed door.

By Joss Fong, Joe Posner and 1 more
Syria
The Syrian refugee crisis, in 4 maps and chartsThe Syrian refugee crisis, in 4 maps and charts
Syria

These maps and charts explain how the situation in Syria got so bad — and why Syrians are fleeing to Europe.

By Zack Beauchamp
Explainers
Europe’s refugee crisis, explainedEurope’s refugee crisis, explained
Explainers

This is a political crisis as well as a humanitarian one

By Amanda Taub
Syria
Why people are fleeing Syria: a brief, simple explanationWhy people are fleeing Syria: a brief, simple explanation
Syria

What you need to know to understand Syria’s civil war — and the refugee crisis it created.

By Zack Beauchamp
Syria
When you see that drowned Syrian boy, you should see the United States’ shameful failureWhen you see that drowned Syrian boy, you should see the United States’ shameful failure
Play
Syria

America’s callous inaction is leaving refugees to drown in the Mediterranean.

By Amanda Taub
World Politics
The drowned Syrian boy photo is viral social media at its most hollow and hypocriticalThe drowned Syrian boy photo is viral social media at its most hollow and hypocritical
World Politics

Western anti-migrant sentiment is embedded in every inch of that photo, whether you see it or not.

By Max Fisher
World Politics
Nothing captures Western hypocrisy on refugees like these British tabloid front pagesNothing captures Western hypocrisy on refugees like these British tabloid front pages
World Politics

Outlets that have bashed refugees for years are now pretending to care about one child whose death produced a viral image.

By Max Fisher
Syria
Germany just did something huge for Syrian refugees — and for the future of EuropeGermany just did something huge for Syrian refugees — and for the future of Europe
Syria

Letting Syrian refugees stay in Germany to apply for asylum will help thousands of vulnerable people. It’s also a step toward solving the European Union’s biggest crisis.

By Amanda Taub
Explainers
1600 migrants have drowned in the Mediterranean in 2015. Europe refuses to fix the crisis.1600 migrants have drowned in the Mediterranean in 2015. Europe refuses to fix the crisis.
Explainers

And it’s only going to get worse this summer.

By Dara Lind
Syria
18,000 people are trapped in a Syrian “death camp” between ISIS and Assad18,000 people are trapped in a Syrian “death camp” between ISIS and Assad
Syria

How Syria’s Yarmouk refugee camp became “the deepest circle of hell.”

By Amanda Taub
Syria
Syria’s civil war created 2.5 million refugees last year — the US let in 36Syria’s civil war created 2.5 million refugees last year — the US let in 36
Syria

Neighboring countries are struggling to house them in nightmarish refugee camps

By Dara Lind
archives
This chart of skyrocketing refugee numbers shows how bad Syria’s war isThis chart of skyrocketing refugee numbers shows how bad Syria’s war is
archives

130,000 refugees flooded into Turkey in just three days.

By Amanda Taub
archives
33 million people are internally displaced33 million people are internally displaced
archives
By Dylan Matthews