This month, the international community stepped into a state of turmoil, as a delicate truce in Syria was broken by the bombing of a remote village known as Ter Ma’aleh. The bombing was conducted by Russian warplanes that killed a total of twelve people while sending hundreds more into frantic exile. The incident of Ter Ma’aleh is just one example of the escalation of violence in Syria. The repercussions of this upsurge certainly include political conflict; however, it has also led to the displacement of thousands of innocent civilians. With the already existing Syrian refugee crisis, the increase in violence has more impact than ever before. It has not been long since the European Union has opened up its borders to the refugees, but the intensity of the fighting poses a threat to the amount of civilians the countries can welcome.

According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 9,000 refugees cross into Greece within a single day. These numbers are only expected to grow, as the amount of migrants seeking asylum is the highest in the status quo than ever before. The continuous influx of refugees has been overwhelming for Greece and other nations in Europe, since processing and documenting the asylum seekers is a difficult and costly demand. To mitigate the situation, leaders of the European Union plan to open more reception centers along the Balkan Route in Europe. The effectiveness of this plan is yet to be determined.

For those who are unable to cross into Europe, fleeing from hostility is becoming a continuously dangerous task. As the government, rebel groups, and the Islamic State try to capture territory, the dislocated families fear that roads or trails will be cut off by the forces. A statement released by the United Nations shows that more than 12,000 people are currently displaced in Syria. While Turkish aid groups and non-governmental organizations are rushing to provide food and water to the refugees, the fighting only makes it more difficult for them to reach those located far from the Turkish border.

Though the violence in Syria has failed to cease, one thing is clear: in the midst of the conflict, the refugees cannot be ignored and the innocent civilians must be sheltered.