Skip to main content
Syria-OGB_77528_SOL1301191042-lpr

On World Refugee Day, Syria reminds us of the human cost of conflict

June 20th is World Refugee Day. It’s a time to remember the millions of men, women and children worldwide who have been displaced due to the threat of persecution, conflict and violence; to take stock of their enormous courage, strength and sacrifices.

It seems impossible to find a more heartbreaking reminder of the chilling reality of being a refugee than what’s happening right now in Syria. Of the approximately 42 million refugees and internally displaced persons around the world, an estimated 5.9 million (almost 1 in 7) are Syrians.

Well over 4 million have been displaced within Syria, while another 1.6 million have fled to neighbouring countries in the region. That’s more than a quarter of the population of a country smaller than the state of Victoria.

Just a few days ago, the number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon passed 530,000, after an increase of over 19,000 new refugees in only a week. By the end of the year, the UN estimates the numbers of Syrian refugees will more than double.

Many ordinary Syrians who have fled their homes are struggling to deal with the reality now facing them. They used to have houses, jobs, water, electricity, education and healthcare. Then, one day, it was all gone.

World Refugee Day should remind us that the news reports from the region often gloss over the stories of ordinary people who have lost everything. People who love Syria and desperately want the chance to go home.

The scale of the Syrian crisis can seem overwhelming here in Australia. But there is much that we can do as ordinary Australians to help Syrian refugees to rebuild their lives.

Read more blogs

South Sudan: Asia Ahmed* stands with her mother, Suad, and her brother at their home in Renk, South Sudan. They are among nearly a million people displaced by the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Photo: Herison Philip Osfaldo/Oxfam

World Refugee Day 2025: What it is, why it matters, and how to take action

Each year on 20 June, the world marks World Refugee Day, a day to honour the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their homes. Refugees...

Read more

What you helped achieve this election

The election results are in, and we congratulate all candidates elected to the Australian parliament, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Labor government. In the lead-up to the election,...

Read more
Sambo, Cambodia: Vantha is part of a solar powered Aquaponics pilot project in her village. The pilot gives local villagers the opportunity to grow vegetables in a climate resilient way that can then be used to support their household expenses. Photo: Patrick Moran/Oxfam. Oxfam acknowledges the support of the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for this project.

Powering Up Potential for a Just Energy Transition 

Australia is making great strides in moving to renewable energy at home, with almost half of our electricity now coming from solar, wind and hydro. But do our international policies,...

Read more