There are numbers to satisfy you, but some people connect more with concrete stories. That's how they get a sense of the problem, by hearing stories from real people, rather than numbers.
I wish there was more numerate reporting out there though. I'm all for there being news sources for people who prefer the individual-human perspective (though some abuse this by picking unrepresentative anecdotes to spread dangerous misconceptions), but I'd like there to be some that served the more statistically-conscious market.
The problem with the "single human tragedy" narrative is that it historically has been abused to motivate disproportionate responses (see also: drug policy). This article was a call to action, but the appropriate response is differs for "just one sad kid" and "a whole country enslaved", with quite a spectrum between.
People are different in what makes them care.