Hazam, 35, could no longer see a future for himself and his family in Deir al-Zour, a city that has been a flashpoint in the country's five-year-long civil war. A physical fitness teacher, Hazam could no longer work, while his wife was pregnant with their fourth child.

Lesbos, where I spent winter break as a volunteer, received thousands of refugees a day for many months. I find myself at a loss for words, unable to accurately describe what is going on in the region I just left. But the fact is, we all need to do better to help each other.