World Vision urgently calls on all parties to immediately de-escalate hostilities in the Middle East and work towards a lasting peaceful resolution.

The Middle East and Eastern Europe region faces some of the world’s most complex and long-lasting humanitarian crises, driven by conflict, climate shocks, and economic decline. Despite insecurity, limited funding, and access challenges, World Vision has sustained and expanded its humanitarian response in the region for over 50 years.

In 2025, WV Syria Response reached 4.22M people despite crisis, expanding access, meeting communities, and reaffirming its mission to help children thrive.

While shrapnel and debris fall from the sky, families are forced to stay indoors around the clock — every aspect of their lives has been upended.

Juma Ignatius, Senior Policy Advisor, Climate Action and Disaster Risk Reduction, Disaster Management, brings our attention to the recent Mozambique floods that are often framed as natural disasters, but in reality, it is a story of global inequality, climate inaction and decades of neglect paid for by children who did nothing to cause the crisis. As emergency aid is repeated and preparedness is ignored, based on the negotiations within the UNFCCC spaces, Juma argues that without a shift to Disaster Risk Reduction, Anticipatory Action and climate-resilient development, disasters will continue to steal childhoods.

The current escalation follows prolonged instability and military activity despite the 27 November 2024 cessation of hostilities. Since the ceasefire came into effect, more than 10,000 air and ground violations have been recorded, resulting in at least 335 people killed and 973 injured as of 5 January 2026. Reported incidents have included airspace incursions, cross-border fire, and military activity in Baalbek, Hermel, and southern areas, alongside the continued presence of foreign military forces in five border villages. Prior to the renewed escalation in March 2026, an estimated 62,000 to 90,000 people remained internally displaced from earlier conflicts, underscoring the protracted nature of the crisis and the heightened humanitarian vulnerability across affected regions. Over the weekend, regional tensions escalated following developments involving the United States and Iran, with hostilities expanding into the country to the south of Lebanon and Lebanon on 2nd of March. Airstrikes were reported across multiple areas, including the southern suburbs of Beirut, Bekaa, Baalbek-Hermel, and South Lebanon. According to Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Unit sources, an estimated more than 81,791 internally displaced persons (IDPs) including 9,000 children, have been recorded thus far, primarily in Beirut & Mount Lebanon (BML), Bekaa, Baalbek, and southern governorates. So far, over 60 people have been reported killed and at least 154 injured, with figures continuing to evolve. Warnings have been issued to evacuate over 200 towns across Lebanon, contributing to significant population movement from border areas and high-risk locations, while shelter data remains fluid due to continued secondary displacement and movement between collective sites.

After years of displacement and economic collapse, Syrians are in great need for essential services. WVSR's health project is providing essential health and nutrition services for families in northern Syria.

Recently, we have rehabilitated 15 schools in Rural Damascus as we make it our priority to contribute in providing a bright future to the children of Syria.

The escalation of violence across the Middle East is placing millions of children and their families at serious risk of harm and death, warns World Vision International.

World Vision Lebanon is calling for urgent protection and support for children as expanding evacuation orders and escalating insecurity trigger a new wave of internal displacement across Lebanon. Since the first hours of the escalation, World Vision Lebanon has reached more than 57,000 people, including more than 20,000 children, with blankets, hot meals, family hygiene kits, and mattresses among other supplies. However, humanitarian needs are expected to continue rising in the coming days, with thousands of children likely to require psychosocial support and protection services.