Millions of Syrians have had to say goodbye to everything they know as they leave home behind. Many wait in refugee camps in neighboring countries for years, hoping for a chance to start a new life. And hundreds have been able to call Erie County their adopted home. 

For Christine Bitar, the last few years have been pretty stressful. Bitar's parents moved to the U.S. before she was born, but a lot of her family still lives in Syria. She's been able to visit a few times over the last four years. Her most recent trip was this summer.

"It was definitely nerve-wracking in some aspects, knowing that we were in a war-torn country, but yet I'm not hearing anything. I'm not seeing anything. Yet, the war is basically happening 15, 20 or 30 minutes away, just depending on the area that we were in," said Bitar.

Marlene Schillinger is the president and CEO of Jewish Family Service which re-settles dozens of refugees each year. According to Erie County officials, 400 people from Syria have made Erie County home since 2015.

"People have been traumatized. They've been tortured. They're struggling for food. They're always concerned about safety. People have been trying to get out of Syria for probably eight or ten years," said Schillinger.

And she's horrified of news of a suspected chemical attack in the country on April 7. Dozens of people were killed. Syria's government denies a chemical attack.

In response, U.S., U.K. and France led a joint-missile strike on suspected chemical weapon factories last week.

Reactions are as diverse as the people in Syria. 

"They're between a rock and a hard place. I think what they're thinking is 'OK, the U.S. and other countries have stepped in, but they're not allowing people out.' So it's really a catch-22," said Schillinger.

But Bitar countered, "I think the U.S. should stay out. I mean, I understand that we are the type of country that wants to get involved and help other people, but at the same time, we're not only affecting our own soldiers here in the states, but we're also affecting civilians and women and children and men over there as well."

But in the meantime, many in Western New York continue to welcome those seeking refuge here.

"The people who have emigrated here are good citizens. They are new Americans. They want to be Americans. They're investing in our communities and they've revitalized the West Side of Buffalo," said Mark Poloncarz, (D) Erie County executive.