In Search of Safety:
The Syrians Missing on Asylum Routes

The Syrian conflict epitomizes the complexities of the modern era, where intertwined dimensions come together to narrate the story of a bloody and multifaceted humanitarian crisis. The history of this conflict is not merely a chronology of events; it reflects the regional and international system’s response to a wave of change in the Arab region, profoundly impacting millions of lives and the future of an entire nation. Since its outbreak in 2011, the Syrian conflict has been characterized by its intricate nature, with internal dynamics interwoven with external interventions, exacerbating the crisis and complicating the search for lasting resolutions.
This chapter will first provide a brief chronological overview of the key developments in the Syrian conflict, including foreign interventions and military shifts that have led to the current situation of relative stability. It then addresses the Syrian refugee crisis, one of the most complex and significant refugee crises in modern history, examining the motivations behind these mass migrations and the conditions refugees face in transit and host countries. Finally, it will discuss the economic, political, and social conditions of the transit countries, which closely and inevitably affect Syrian refugees.