This reflection marks the anniversary of the Syria conflict while highlighting signs of renewed hope and change for Syrian communities. Despite ongoing needs, the progress seen in education, nutrition, and essential services through WVSR's support signals new beginnings and resilience for the Syrian people.

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.

15 years after the Syria conflict began, millions of children are still paying the price. Renewed escalations in the Middle East threaten families already coping with hunger, displacement, and trauma. Today, over 7 million children in Syria need humanitarian assistance, and in 2025, World Vision Syria Response reached 2.5 million children with food, water, education, protection, and psychosocial support. Sustained international support is essential to meet the needs of Syria’s children and help them rebuild their lives after years of crisis.

Nexus drives impact in fragile contexts by linking aid, development, and peacebuilding to save lives, strengthen systems, and build lasting resilience.

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.

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

MEER faces some of the world’s most complex and protracted humanitarian crises. Shifting conflict dynamics, climate shocks, and economic deterioration continue to drive multi-layered and chronic needs. Despite the volatile context, shrinking funding and civic space, and access challenges, World Vision has maintained operational presence and scaled up humanitarian programming across the region for more than five decades.

Faith leaders in Kenya are helping prevent violence against women through a community‑led couples programme that strengthens relationships and protects families.

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.