While they are risking their lives to escape the threat of abduction. sexual abuse. torture and murder. they face an entirely new set of threats on this desperate journey for asylum. Many are on traversing unsafe routes. suffering from starvation. facing the threat of human trafficking. enduring debilitating psychological trauma. and. of course. many are dying. The U.N. Refugee Agency has stated that about 2.600 people have died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean this year alone. including 3yearold Aylan Kurdi. Aylan grew up in the Syrian city of Kobani. a city situated on the border of Turkey. which in recent years has been under siege by ISIL militants and the Assad regime. Facing increasing turmoil and unrest.