What's social media saying about the Syrian war anniversary?

As the Syrian conflict entered its fifth year today, social media was inundated with users marking the anniversary in their own way.

The United Nations kick-started a campaign a few days ago to spread awareness about the continuous suffering and the deteriorating humanitarian situation of the Syrian people, as well as to send a message of solidarity and to urge them not to give up hope.

“This crisis has a tragic human cost,” said UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Valerie Amos. “Syrians need peace now - they need to know that the world is committed to securing their children’s future.”

The UN campaign calls on individuals, member states and world leaders to post images of themselves on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram holding up a sign with #WhatDoesItTake. The pictures will be collected by the campaign’s website to create “an online photo wall of solidarity and support”.

Life expectancy for Syrians has been cut down by 20 years, and the UN has described the refugee crisis as the worst in the last two decades.

Four million Syrians are refugees outside of their country, with a further seven million displaced within Syria. More than 215,000 people have been killed according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. This toll includes 66,000 civilians who make up about a third of those killed. That includes 10,808 children and nearly 7,000 women, according to the group.

Users on social media also posted infographics and satellite images that capture the immense electricity outages at night, which amount to 83 percent.