Millions of children at risk as violence escalates
Escalating violence across the Middle East is putting millions of children’s lives at risk. They’re frightened and can’t sleep. Families aren’t sure whether their homes, schools and loved ones will stay safe.
Eleanor Monbiot, World Vision’s regional leader for the Middle East and Eastern Europe, says “this cycle of violence must come to an end”.
“Ongoing conflict, violence and displacement emotionally and physically damages children. No child should have to live with this level of fear and uncertainty.”
World Vision calls for peace, compassion and urgent efforts to protect civilians. We urge all parties to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of families and children.
World Vision has worked across the Middle East for more than 50 years. We support children and families with life-saving assistance and long-term support.
This ranges from emergency food, clean water and healthcare to education, child protection and psychosocial support. With the help of generous people like you, World Vision is ramping up support to protect children. We’re asking you to join us.
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 today
Support our response to provide lifesaving support to those affected by the violence.
How your giving helps us on the ground
With your generosity, in two years we’ve reached over one million people across Lebanon and the West Bank. Our teams are helping vulnerable children, families, and communities affected by this crisis.
"What really helped me ... were the strengths I wrote down at the end of each class. They made me feel like I could keep going."
- Tala, Age 10, Takes part in evidence-based wellbeing classes in the West Bank
Our response includes
Donations are directed to the most vulnerable people in the areas of greatest need identified by World Vision and our partners.
Food assistance
We are delivering food, supporting community kitchens to prepare hot meals, and distributing cash and vouchers to help families buy groceries.
Essential emergency relief and supplies
We are providing families affected by violence with 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 and 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 new-borns.
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 will not be able to attend school and provide online learning material.
World Vision’s experience in the region
We have a proven track record of responding in the region since 1975.
In the West Bank, we have built one of the most extensive community-based presences among organisations operating there. With 80 dedicated staff and strong local partnerships, World Vision Ireland is part of a wider World Vision response that can move quickly and deliver meaningful, wide-reaching impact. These trusted relationships ensure communities are not only supported in times of crisis but also empowered to become agents of change.
In Lebanon, World Vision works with 185 staff members and more than 300 local partners, enabling a deep, locally led response to families affected by ongoing instability.
Since the escalation of the Middle East crisis in October 2023, World Vision has significantly expanded its emergency response. Between October 2023 and 2024, nearly 700,000 people across the West Bank and Lebanon were reached with life-saving assistance, including food, clean water, shelter, protection services, psychosocial support, and education programming.
In Lebanon alone, more than 589,000 people, including over 217,000 children, received critical support during this period. In the West Bank, more than 1 million people have been reached as the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate.
These figures reflect both the growing scale of need and the strength of our presence on the ground. Thanks to supporters like you, children and families facing unimaginable uncertainty are receiving urgent assistance today and hope for tomorrow.