Syrian Refugees: Humanitarian and Security Perspectives

The conflict in Syria has created the largest refugee crisis since World War II. Of the more than 4.5 million Syrian refugees that have been registered by the United Nations, almost 40 percent are under the age of 12. Many are living in extreme poverty with little or no access to health care and education.

The United States and other Western countries have vowed to admit increasing numbers of refugees, but terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, Paris, Cologne, and Jakarta are fueling the anxiety of communities throughout the world. In this RAND Policy Circle briefing, experts address what countries are doing to help abate the humanitarian crisis and ongoing efforts to counter the terrorist threat.