Modar used to work for Caritas in Syria helping people who were fleeing conflict. When life became too dangerous, he left for Europe. He describes his work, the terrible journey and coming to terms with being a refugee.
With no room in the flimsy boat for all of his family of six, Khaled Basheer swam behind with his daughter clinging to his back as they headed from Turkey to Greece. Now they're in Serbia, waiting to start a new life in Europe.
The war in Syria is reaching the heart of Europe, with hundreds of thousands of refugees leaving the Middle East through the Western Balkans. Their voyages are filled with peril and suffering, but along the way they're receiving solidarity and help.
Caritas Internationalis calls upon governments, communities and all people of good will to welcome refugees while working for peace as a priority in their homelands.
Women and children refugees recently arrived from Syria to Turkey are living in extremely difficult conditions. Caritas is able to some aid but more is needed.
Four years of war have left Syria in ruins, millions of people have fled and the violence has spread across the region. Caritas is providing aid to 1.2 million people.
Snow and freezing temperatures in the Middle East have left millions of Syrians in even greater need without the means to protect themselves against the weather.
![[Infographic] Middle East in crisis](https://www.caritas.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/gaza-300x200.jpg)
Caritas has helped almost 1 million people affected by the crises in Syria, Gaza and Iraq, but with turmoil deepening, needs are growing while resources shrink.
More than one million children have fled Syria as refugees. Children who used to feel safe in their homes and schools have lost everything. Some have been injured, others have seen their parents killed or arrested. Most have heard planes circling, tanks rolling by, and machine-guns going off.
How one Syrian mother faced the trauma of becoming a refugee in Turkey and what Caritas did to help.