March 6, 2026
Help children caught in the crossfire of conflict
Middle East Crisis Response
World Vision is deeply concerned by the intensifying escalation across the Middle East and urgently calls on all parties to immediately de-escalate hostilities and work towards a lasting peaceful resolution.
Millions of children and their families now face heightened risks of displacement, injury, psychological trauma, and even death as the situation threatens to deteriorate further.
Impact on children and families
Children and families across the Middle East are already living with the devastating consequences of prolonged conflict and instability.
Half of all children across the region currently live in conflict-affected settings. Many were already vulnerable to hunger, disease outbreaks, disrupted education, child marriage, and child labour before this latest escalation.
Renewed instability is compounding already severe humanitarian needs in communities enduring prolonged insecurity, economic hardship, and limited access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and clean water.
World Vision’s response
World Vision is currently assessing growing needs on the ground and activating our emergency response network to reach those most affected by this ongoing crisis.
Reaching the most vulnerable children and families across the region remains central to our response.
Our teams are on the ground and working alongside local partners to respond to urgent needs — just as we have done during previous outbreaks of violence.
What support looks like
World Vision will continue to provide life-saving emergency assistance alongside longer-term support to vulnerable children and families, including:
- Food assistance and basic needs support
- Health services and the provision of medical supplies
- Nutrition services
- Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programmes
- Livelihoods assistance
- Education, child protection, and psychosocial support to help children cope with trauma and recover
How can you help?
Pray for the children
Pray for children and their families living in the midst of rising levels of violence
Pray for the staff
Pray for the safety of our staff and partners as they try to deliver aid and services
Donate
Support our response to provide lifesaving support to those affected by the violence
How your donation helps
Our teams are helping vulnerable children, families, and communities affected by this crisis. Donations are directed to the most vulnerable people in the areas of greatest need identified by World Vision and our partners.
Our response includes
Essential emergency relief and supplies
We are providing families affected by violence emergency relief to replace essential items after losing their homes.
Psychosocial support
We are providing age-appropriate, mental health support and equipping parents to help children endure and heal from distress, fear, and uncertainty.
Safe community spaces & operations
We are rehabilitating safe spaces so communities can come together to support each other.
Resilience building
We are helping more villages to be able to effectively respond to conflict and emergencies.
Building health care capacity
We are equipping health clinics to ensure communities have the capacities to respond to emergencies and to offer care to pregnant women and newborn...
Keeping children safe and protected
We are supporting schools to ensure that children are safe and protected in case of violence and delivering educational supplies.
Catch-up classes
We are providing catch-up classes to children who have not been able to attend school over the past months and providing online learning materials.
Food assistance
We are delivering food, supporting community kitchens to prepare hot meals, and distributing cash and vouchers to help families buy groceries.
Our presence in the region
World Vision has been serving the most vulnerable children in the Middle East for more than 50 years.
Our teams work alongside local partners in Iraq, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Türkiye, and Afghanistan, responding to emergencies while also delivering long-term development programmes that strengthen resilience and protect children.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if my child becomes seriously injured or passes away during this conflict?
The safety and well-being of the children we serve is our highest priority. If your sponsored child becomes seriously injured or passes away during this conflict, or for any other reason, we will contact you directly with known and consented information as soon as it’s operationally possible. In this devastating circumstance, World Vision works to support the family with psychosocial support and material assistance based on the family's request.
What happens if my child loses a parent or caregiver during this conflict?
We know the flow-on impacts of any conflict can be even more devastating for children and communities living in poverty, specifically losing a parent or older caregiver. If your sponsored child loses a parent/caregiver as a result of this conflict or for any other reason, we will contact you directly with known and consented information as soon as it’s operationally possible.
Can I still write a letter to my sponsored child?
Yes. In fact, we hope you will!
In such uncertain times, your sponsored child or their family could be facing fear or uncertainty and they could benefit from knowing you are thinking of and/or praying for them (because of the sensitivity of the situation, avoid speaking about the conflict itself). It may take longer for your letter to be delivered, but rest assured that it will be delivered to your sponsored child as soon as it’s safe to do so. If international mail restrictions are placed on any countries where we work, we will provide immediate updates.
Will I still receive new photos and updates from my sponsored child?
Yes, but the timeframe will be dependent on the situation in the community where your sponsored child is based, as our priority is always the safety of children, staff, and volunteers. If this happens, we ask for your patience and will keep you updated as more information becomes available.
