Many families continue to struggle to rebuild their lives one year after the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on 28 March 2025. UN experts caution that reduced international attention and shrinking humanitarian funding may lead to devastating consequences for Myanmar’s already vulnerable communities. World Vision is providing life-saving relief assistance and recovery support to children and families affected by the earthquake: Through our humanitarian efforts, both immediate relief and long-term recovery, we aim to support 560,353 people, including 172,000 children. As of 18 March 2026, we have reached 581,269 people affected by the earthquake, including 194,748 children (107,016 girls and 87,732 boys).

Explores why our sector has reached a critical inflection point and the role civil society should play in helping build better systems.

World Vision Ukraine has supported over 2.3 million people since 2022, providing essential aid and protection to conflict-affected communities across most regions of Ukraine.

World Vision Syria Response (WVSR) continues to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria, where 16.7 million people, including 7.4 million children, require assistance. In FY2025, WVSR supported over 4.2 million individuals across Syria, Jordan, and Türkiye through programs in health, education, WASH, child protection, and livelihoods.

The escalation of hostilities in Lebanon has now entered day 15, while regional tensions linked to the wider conflict continued for 17 days, with no immediate indication of de-escalation. Evacuation orders continue to expand across South Lebanon, Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley, with warnings issued by the country to the south instructing residents to evacuate and indicating that return will not be permitted until further notice. Reports state that entire families who chose to remain in their homes in some affected areas have been killed during strikes, highlighting the severe protection risks facing civilians. In recent days, strikes have increasingly targeted critical infrastructure and transport routes, including two key bridges connecting major towns in South Lebanon, further disrupting civilian movement and humanitarian access. Trucks transporting goods are reportedly warned not to move along the southern coastal road, further constraining assistance delivery. Airstrikes also impacted central Beirut and residential areas in Mount Lebanon, reflecting the continued expansion of hostilities beyond traditional frontline zones. Meanwhile, displacement continues to rise, and shelter capacity remains under severe strain. With collective shelters overcrowded or at full capacity, many displaced families have been forced to seek alternative arrangements, including unfinished buildings, informal shelters, and makeshift tents along the coastal Corniche from Saida to Beirut. Recent heavy rainstorms and falling temperatures have further worsened conditions, destroying displacement tents and flooding temporary sites, leaving displaced households exposed to harsh weather and heightened risks. The prolonged escalation is also contributing to pockets of civil unrest, as well as heightened social tensions in several areas, with growing fears among communities that prolonged displacement and political polarization could increase the risk of localized sectarian tensions.

In FY26 Q1, World Vision in the Democratic Republic of the Congo transitioned from costly VSAT internet services to Starlink to improve connectivity across its field operations. The move is expected to save more annually, allowing resources to be redirected to programmes that support vulnerable children and communities. Beyond cost savings, the new system provides faster, more reliable internet in remote areas, enabling better data collection, quicker reporting, stronger collaboration, and more efficient programme delivery.

According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), attacks between 2 and 8 March have resulted in 394 people killed and 1,130 injured, with figures Increasing daily. Displacement orders issued in the last days, including renewed orders affecting areas south of the Litani River and the entirety of Beirut’s southern suburbs, have triggered further population movements and repeated displacement for many households. As of 8 March, the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Unit reports 117,228 displaced individuals residing in 538 collective shelters. The Government of Lebanon has launched a national self-registration platform for internally displaced persons, with over 517,000 people, indicating the potential scale of displacement beyond those recorded in collective shelters. Recent days have seen hostilities expand beyond traditional frontline areas, including blanket evacuation orders affecting Beirut’s southern suburbs, warnings and subsequent strikes targeting branches of the Al-Qard- Al-Hassan Association. Airstrikes have also impacted locations outside the declared warning zones, including a hotel in central Beirut and an earlier strike on a hotel in Hazmieh, both situated outside the primary red-zone areas. These incidents highlight the widening geographic scope of the conflict and the continued risks to civilians and humanitarian operations across areas.

The escalation of hostilities in Lebanon is intense and rapidly expanding, resulting in nearly 820,000 forcibly displaced people - more than 200,000 of them children - in less than two weeks. Evacuation orders are expanding, with the country to the south launching the ‘South of Zahrani River’ initiative. Evacuation orders now encompass the entire region south of the Litani River, triggering waves of mass displacement as well as repeated displacement among already vulnerable families. In several Christian-majority towns in the South, residents initially resisted leaving their homes, but were ultimately evacuated under the escort of UNIFIL for civilian protection. Hostilities are increasingly affecting areas beyond the ‘traditional’ frontline zones, a troubling trend that points to a more aggressive escalation than that of 2024. Recent airstrikes hit the neighborhoods of Haret Saida, Tyre, Aramoun, Ramlet El Bayda, areas deemed safer, in one case targeting a car nearby displaced families staying in tents. Targeting of central Beirut is new - with strikes on hotels and residential buildings that inevidably affect civilians in the surrounding areas. An estimated have been killed, with 81 children killed since March 1. UNICEF estimates that 10 children per day are killed. Lebanon’s Ministry of Social Affairs reports 822,600 internally displaced people self-registered on the Government’s digital platform, indicating that overall displacement is significantly higher than that captured through collective shelter reporting. In addition, almost 84,000 Syrians and more than 8,000 Lebanese have crossed into Syria since 2 March. Violations to International Humanitarian Law continue, with frontline responders at great risk. To date, 14 paramedics were killed, including one member of the Lebanese Red Cross, underscoring the growing risks faced by emergency personnel.

A cholera outbreak that began in December 2025 in the Manika Health Zone of Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo, has prompted a coordinated response from health authorities, community health workers, and humanitarian partners. With support from World Vision, essential medical supplies, water treatment materials, and sanitation equipment were provided to strengthen prevention, treatment, and community awareness efforts. Community health workers have played a central role in educating families about hygiene practices, water chlorination, and early referral of suspected cases. Through these combined efforts, thousands of residents in high-risk neighbourhoods have received clean water and cholera prevention messages. While the response is helping reduce transmission risks, health authorities warn that continued vigilance and community mobilisation remain essential due to ongoing population movement and the risk of the outbreak spreading to neighbouring areas.

Why meaningful progress for girls will depend not on declarations but on political discipline and sustained investment.