Understanding the Crisis in Syria...and Surrounding Areas

Mercy Corps // Featured Charity on SocietyB.com // Sept 14-20, 2015

This week, Society B is joining many others to call attention to a cause that has, for too long, been buried beneath other headlines: Syrian refugees.

And to help explain the situation in Syria, we’re going to defer to one of our favorite voices of reason and master uncomplicator—John Green.

Sorry. We should have mentioned that John Green's video isn't light and uplifting.

Solving the conflict in Syria is complicated. It’s not as simple as bringing the opposing sides to the table and figuring out a peace treaty. According to the BBC, there are more than 1,000 militant groups fighting Bashar al Assad’s troops.

And addressing the refugee crisis is also very complicated. Many organizations are working in Syria and surrounding countries to help provide emergency aid to the millions of people who are fleeing the wars in Syria without any promise of a better life. And it will take a massive rally of political efforts and public support to make a difference in this situation.

But we must try...something.

So this week, we’re doing what we can to help Syrian refugees by supporting Mercy Corps. They are saving and improving lives in the world’s toughest places. We encourage you to learn more about Mercy Corps by going here.

But beyond shopping for products that give back, we hope you’ll also consider supporting Mercy Corps or a number of reputable organizations working in the region (such as UNHCR or Save the Children) to respond to this humanitarian crisis.