The experience of Syrians cannot be replicated, understood, or felt by anyone besides refugees themselves. For nine years, the Syrian people have lived with uncertainty, war, trauma, and loss. For many of us, this is far, far away from our own reality. 

Although it is impossible to feel and see what many Syrians have been through, it is possible to gather a better understanding of the harsh realities they face. Consider the following questions when you are trying to understand the experience of displacement. 

1. Did I attend school?
   1. 40% of school-age Syrian refugees do not have access to education.
   2. In 2019, there were more than 145 attacks on schools.
2. How many meals did I have per day?
   1. 6.5 million people inside Syria are experiencing life-threatening food insecurity.
3. Did I go to the doctor when I was sick?
   1. 95% of people within Syria lack access to healthcare.
   2. In 2019 alone, there were more than 80 attacks on hospitals.
4. Did I ever have to leave my home for security reasons?
   1. More than 13 million Syrians are displaced due to the war.
5. Did you have enough?
   1. 83% of Syrians are living in poverty.
6. Do I have a roof over my head?
   1. As of February 23, 2020, in northwest Syria alone, about 17,000 people were living in open spaces, 163,000 in unfinished houses or buildings, and 135,000 living in tents.
7. Have I ever heard a real bomb?
   1. Since the beginning of 2020, there have been more than 2200 airstrikes in Idlib, Aleppo, and Hama.
8. Have I ever had to sleep outside in the winter without a coat?
   1. Children and families are dying as they live exposed in sub-zero temperatures.

Syrians are resilient. They have stood strong in the face of terror, they have made sacrifices much of the world could not imagine, and they have refused to relinquish their potential through all of it. As the crisis continues, we can be sure their resilience will as well, and with it, hope for the future of Syria.