Searching for Syria

BY

Fatima Al-Wahaidy

-

Tue, 13 Jun 2017 - 09:45 GMT

BY

Fatima Al-Wahaidy

Tue, 13 Jun 2017 - 09:45 GMT

Photo courtesy UNHCR

Photo courtesy UNHCR

CAIRO – 13 June 2017: The United Nation Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and Google launched the

“Searching for Syria”

website that gives a comprehensive insight into the Syrian crises with special focus on the status of refugees.

The website also sheds light on the human cost of the crises and the humanitarian response to help Syrians, who were forced to flee from their homes in search for safe havens from the ongoing violence

The “Searching for Syria” website is built on data and stories from UNHCR and search trends from Google and other sources with the aim of providing answers to the most common queries that people are asking about regarding the Syrian crises. The answers are delivered through rich and immersive multimedia content, which is being produced by UNHCR and Google.





These questions include:

What was Syria like before the war?



Where are Syrian refugees going?




How can I help Syrian refugees?





Who is a refugee?




What were peacetime Syrians Googling before the war?




According to Google, among the top searches in Germany, France, and the UK in 2016 was: What is happening in Syria?

Searching for Syria visitors will find short editorial passages, refugee profiles, photographs and videos. For users wishing to engage further, the website will offer options to share content via social networks, donate or sign up to UNHCR’s

#WithRefugees

global petition asking world leaders to ensure education for refugee children, adequate shelter and livelihoods for refugee families.

The “Searching for Syria” website is available in English, French, German and Spanish. An Arabic version is expected to be launched soon.

According to UNHCR, Syrians make up the largest refugee group in the world. Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in March 2011 approximately half of the country’s population (estimated 22 million) were forced to flee their homes. More than five million live as refugees in neighboring countries. Another 6.3 million are internally displaced inside Syria. Syrian refugees face increasing hardships and risks as the response to their crisis is not sustainable.

The humanitarian community managed to secure funds for only 17 percent of the immediate humanitarian needs of Syrian refugees in 2017.

The UNHCR reports that only about 10 percent of Syrian refugees live in camp settings. Turkey is the top registered refugee hosting country in the world. In addition, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt hosts registered and unregistered Syrian refugees.

To learn more about this initiative visit

#SearchingforSyria


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