In the aftermath of the Houla massacre on 25 May 2012, during the ongoing Syrian civil war, Burj Qa'i hosted around 5,000 refugees fleeing nearby Taldou, the scene of the massacre. Most refugees took shelter in schools, public buildings or the homes of host families. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visited in June to provide food, medicines and mattresses to the displaced. In early October 2012 Syrian state television reported that Syrian Army forces killed several opposition fighters in Burj Qa'i.