title: Trying to follow what is going on in Syria and why? This comic will get you there in 5 minutes.
url: http://www.upworthy.com/trying-to-follow-what-is-going-on-in-syria-and-why-this-comic-will-get-you-there-in-5-minutes
hash_url: 08fa7334a584aeaab8ffedfa9c4e7d73


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<img src="https://upw-prod-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/nugget/5397386a7e590b491e000044/attachments/1280-867cf2ed607de89e93f50baf283e60f1.gif?ixlib=rb-0.3.5&amp;fm=png&amp;s=d196af392289cb5cb1cfcd537cd871b5" class="imgix-gif-load" data-src="https://upw-prod-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/nugget/5397386a7e590b491e000044/attachments/1280-867cf2ed607de89e93f50baf283e60f1.gif?ixlib=rb-0.3.5&amp;fit=max&amp;s=192f6b2948fdb77ef10aada28318c1ba"/>
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<img src="//upw-prod-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/nugget/539738b5b1a132c5e9000045/attachments/1280-ffe11c006f5e6ca23a26a5decbd441c1.jpg"/></p><p>
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<img src="https://upw-prod-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/nugget/539739e6b1a13254ea000032/attachments/1280-954d98e0cfcb16d9881353850e299e53.gif?ixlib=rb-0.3.5&amp;fm=png&amp;s=03674bffd2f465105a0b93c32aa123a3" class="imgix-gif-load" data-src="https://upw-prod-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/nugget/539739e6b1a13254ea000032/attachments/1280-954d98e0cfcb16d9881353850e299e53.gif?ixlib=rb-0.3.5&amp;fit=max&amp;s=726d7c094b411e962d5038d8fbc65b22"/>
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<img src="//upw-prod-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/nugget/53973a0a7e590b05ea000049/attachments/1280-a36e8e1f7841d9e24121518b53fc52d1.jpg"/></p><p>
<img src="//upw-prod-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/nugget/53973a1eb1a13267dc000037/attachments/1280-89662fc6259513ab36d1d41b8107ca15.jpg"/></p><p>
<img src="//upw-prod-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/nugget/53973a3fb1a13254ea000033/attachments/1280-8968d9fbe2d5888559219e0848abc8b0.jpg"/></p><p><img src="//upw-prod-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/nugget/53973a82b1a132c60e000056/attachments/1280-3de033fa77fdef29daf2b9bfb0f4ca98.jpg"/></p><p><img src="//upw-prod-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/nugget/53973abdb1a132f7d0000033/attachments/1280-0d188766652fbe0a859296a51c87bfbc.jpg"/></p><p>          <img src="https://upw-prod-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/nugget/53973afc7e590b491e000049/attachments/1280-22dc7e9fd4466f195d752a040f5620bd.gif?ixlib=rb-0.3.5&amp;fm=png&amp;s=db8a481d34b6ce4ec69447c253aae1f6" class="imgix-gif-load" data-src="https://upw-prod-images.global.ssl.fastly.net/nugget/53973afc7e590b491e000049/attachments/1280-22dc7e9fd4466f195d752a040f5620bd.gif?ixlib=rb-0.3.5&amp;fit=max&amp;s=a87c83856b40159217c5b96a8c7f2b5d"/>
</p><p>That warning has become a global alert. Since the uprising against Assad in March 2011, <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34140403" target="_blank">over 240,000 people</a> have been killed, 4 million Syrians have fled their country, and over 7 million have been displaced. </p><p>The headlines are full of the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/09/02/a-dead-baby-becomes-the-most-tragic-symbol-yet-of-the-mediterranean-refugee-crisis/" target="_blank">heartbreaking stories</a> of these refugees — including young children — who have died trying to reach safety in other countries. The story of these refugees is deeply tied to the effects of climate change. </p><p>"<span class="s2">We are experiencing a surprising uptick in global insecurity ... partially due to our inability to manage climate stress." That's how Columbia University professor Marc Levy (who also does studies for the U.S. government) <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/26/us-climatechange-security-aid-idUSKCN0QV0ER20150826" target="_blank">summed it up</a>. </span></p><p>What's happening in Syria and across Europe is part of a larger story that affects us all. </p>
