Syrian Refugees: A Decade of Displacement and Hope

The Syrian refugee crisis began in 2011 and has become one of the largest and longest displacement emergencies in modern history. More than 13 million Syrians have been forced from their homes—over half the country’s pre-war population. For Syrian refugees who have made it to the United States, cities like Dallas have become places to start over.

The Syrian Refugee Crisis: How It Started

In March 2011, peaceful protests against the government of President Bashar al-Assad erupted across Syria. The government responded with military force, and the country descended into a multi-sided civil war involving government forces, rebel groups, ISIS, Kurdish fighters, and foreign powers including Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the United States.

The human cost has been catastrophic:

• Over 500,000 people killed since the war began
• 6.8 million refugees fled Syria, mostly to neighboring countries
• 6.9 million internally displaced within Syria
• Entire cities destroyed—Aleppo, Homs, and Eastern Ghouta suffered massive bombardment

According to the UNHCR, Syria remains the world’s largest refugee crisis by population. Turkey alone hosts over 3.5 million Syrian refugees—the largest refugee population in any single country.

Syrian Refugees in the United States

The U.S. has resettled approximately 28,000 Syrian refugees since 2011—a small fraction of the global total. Resettlement numbers have fluctuated significantly based on administration policies, dropping to near zero in some years and rising in others.

The refugee resettlement process for Syrians follows the same rigorous path as all refugees: UNHCR referral, multiple rounds of security screening that take 18-24 months, and final placement with a U.S. resettlement agency. Only about 1% of the world’s refugees are ever resettled to a third country.

Syrian refugees in America have settled in cities across the country, with significant communities in Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Detroit, and San Diego.

Syrian Refugees in Dallas

Dallas is one of the top U.S. cities for refugee resettlement, and the local Syrian community has grown steadily. Local agencies—the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Catholic Charities, and Refugee Services of Texas—coordinate the resettlement process in Dallas, helping families with housing, employment, and cultural orientation.

Syrian families in Dallas have opened restaurants serving traditional dishes like shawarma, kibbeh, and fattoush. They’ve started businesses, enrolled their children in Dallas schools, and contributed to the city’s cultural fabric. Neighborhoods across DFW are richer for their presence.

But the early months are tough. Families arrive with almost nothing. Resettlement agencies provide initial rent assistance and basic orientation, but furnishing an apartment—beds, tables, chairs, dressers—falls through the cracks. That gap is exactly what Be Deliberate fills with every delivery.

What Syrian Refugees Face When They Arrive

Syrian refugees deal with many of the same challenges as other refugee communities, along with specific hurdles:

• Trauma — Many Syrians have survived barrel bombs, chemical attacks, siege, and displacement multiple times before reaching the U.S.
• Language — Arabic is the primary language; English proficiency varies widely
• Family separation — Many have relatives still in Syria or stuck in refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon, or Turkey
• Credential recognition — Syrian professionals often held careers that don’t transfer easily to the American job market

Understanding what refugees need most when they arrive helps communities provide targeted, effective support rather than well-meaning but mismatched assistance.

How Dallas Welcomes Syrian Families

The Dallas community has shown up for Syrian refugees in tangible ways. Volunteers help families navigate school enrollment, doctor’s appointments, and public transportation. Local businesses have hired refugees. And organizations like Be Deliberate ensure families have the furniture they need to make an apartment feel like home.

With 490+ deliveries completed, Be Deliberate has furnished homes for families from Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar, the DRC, Ukraine, and Eritrea. Every furniture donation helps a real family in a real apartment in Dallas.

How You Can Help

More than a decade into this crisis, Syrian families are still arriving in Dallas and still need support. Your donated furniture, time, or financial contribution makes their fresh start a little less daunting.

• Donate Furniture — Free pickup across Dallas-Fort Worth
• Volunteer — Help deliver and set up furniture for refugee families
• Give Financially — Fund warehouse operations and welcome home kits