Syrian families caught in the line of fire

(Vatican Radio) As the conflict in Syria continues to rage, more and more ordinary families are ending up in the firing line. Thousands of Syrians are fleeing each day to neighbouring countries like Jordan and Lebanon to escape the violence, often with only the clothes on their backs. But how are these refugees faring in their host countries and what kind of war stories have they experienced? One person who has met these Syrian refugees and saw with her own eyes the extent of their plight is Caroline Brennan, a senior communications officer at Catholic Relief Services. She spoke to Vatican Radio's Susy Hodges:

Listen to the extended interview with Caroline Brennan of Catholic Relief Services:

Brennan says the humanitarian crisis facing these Syrian refugees is "getting even worse" and describes their situation as "dire" because resources are so stretched in their host countries. Many of the refugees, she went on, fled Syria at a moment's notice and have come "without papers, money" ... with "just the clothes on their backs."

One of the most distressing things for these refugees is that in the haste of their departure, they were often forced to leave a spouse or family member behind. Brennan says the family separation "is the main source of stress, grief and anxiety" for the refugees ... as they don't know what's happening back home."

When it comes to the refugee children, Brennan told us that many of them have been traumatised by their experiences in war-torn Syria. She says some of the children witnessed "some horrfic violence" and describes how a seven year old refugee boy drew a sketch of a woman being shot in the street. "It's death on a piece of paper," she says.

But despite the death and destruction they have witnessed, Brennan says all the Syrian refugees she met cherish the hope of being able to return to their homeland. "They all talk about wanting to go home."