For children in conflict-affected areas of the Middle East, the sounds of armed violence have become a heartbreaking part of daily life. Schools that once provided safety and learning have closed, and many classrooms have turned into makeshift shelters. Millions of children face uncertainty as conflict disrupts their education, health, and sense of security.
Across the Middle East, ongoing conflict and instability continue to drive humanitarian needs. In Lebanon, renewed violence since early March 2026 has devastated communities in Beirut’s southern suburbs, the Bekaa Valley, and South Lebanon. More than 1 million people, including an estimated 370,000 children, have been displaced, leaving families in urgent need of food, shelter, access to clean water, protection, and healthcare.
Middle East crisis: Facts, FAQs, and how to help
Explore facts, and frequently asked questions about the crisis in the Middle East where World Vision works, and learn how you can help impacted communities.
- Fast facts: Middle East crisis
- How is the Middle East crisis affecting children?
- What is World Vision doing to help impacted families in the Middle East?
- How can I help the children and families affected by the Middle East crisis?
Fast facts: Middle East crisis
- In Lebanon:
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- More than 4 million people need humanitarian assistance.
- More than 1 million people, including approximately 35,000 children, have been displaced by renewed violence.
- Over 80% of Lebanon’s population lives in multidimensional poverty, struggling to access basic needs.
- In some areas of Lebanon, half of children under 2 experience severe food poverty.
- Hundreds of schools have been damaged or are being used as shelters, disrupting children’s education.
- West Bank:
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- About 12,000 children from three refugee camps are displaced.
- More than 800,000 people (1 in 4 residents) require access to healthcare and clean water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance.
- Many schools in the West Bank are open only three days a week.
- Health clinics are open just one day a week, with limited access to healthcare personnel and essential supplies.
- Children face growing protection, mental health, and psychological needs as violence and displacement continue.
How is the Middle East crisis affecting children?
Conflict is depriving children of the essentials they need to survive and thrive.
Every child deserves to feel safe, to learn, and to grow up healthy. Right now, violence, poverty, and failing services are stealing those basic rights from far too many children.
Many families are struggling to find enough nutritious food, while damaged infrastructure and disrupted public services make it challenging to access healthcare, education, and clean water. In some areas of Lebanon, more than half of children under 2 face severe food poverty, and many children are eating just one meal, or none, each day.
Education has also been severely disrupted. Schools that once provided stability have been damaged, closed, or converted into shelters for displaced people. In the West Bank, many schools operate only three days a week, while healthcare facilities face shortages of staff and medical supplies.
The loss of essential needs such as food, safety, and stability places significant psychological strain on children, compounding the effects of ongoing conflict.
“The conflict is impacting children caught in this cycle of violence, hunger, and displacement,” says Margaret Schuler, senior vice president of International Programs for World Vision. “Behind each statistic is a story — stories of children and the families who want to keep them safe — enduring unimaginable fear, trauma, and loss.”
What is World Vision doing to help impacted families in the Middle East?
World Vision is responding across Lebanon and the West Bank by providing emergency relief assistance while helping children and families recover and rebuild stronger communities for the future.
Lebanon
As violence has escalated since early March 2026, families have been forced to flee multiple times, leaving many people in overcrowded shelters or without safe refuge. Despite ongoing insecurity and restricted humanitarian access, World Vision continues to adapt its response to reach children and families with lifesaving support.
Working through 22 trusted local partners, World Vision is delivering emergency food assistance, clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), child protection services, healthcare, education, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and more in some of the country’s hardest-hit communities.
Since the 2026 crisis escalated, World Vision has:
- Reached more than 589,000 people, including over 217,000 children
- Delivered more than 10.2 million meals
- Distributed 61,000 hygiene kits and 24,700 blankets
- Rehabilitated 934 schools, homes, and health facilities
- Provided more than 6,000 psychosocial support sessions, delivered both online for displaced families and in person in collective shelters to help children and caregivers cope with trauma and loss.
The violence has taken a devastating toll. Two children enrolled in World Vision Lebanon’s sponsorship program were killed while their families were fleeing airstrikes, a heartbreaking reminder that behind every statistic is a child whose life has been forever changed.
West Bank
In the West Bank, World Vision continues to support families facing displacement, movement restrictions, and disruptions to essential services.
Working alongside local partners, World Vision has reached more than 1 million people, including 430,000 children, through emergency assistance, child protection, education, healthcare, and mental health programs.
Our response activities include:
- Cash and voucher assistance for 10,700 people
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Safe play and recreation opportunities for 35,000 children
- Social and emotional learning programs reaching 28,000 children
- Protection initiatives that strengthen community resilience while helping children access education and essential services.
How can I help the children and families affected by the Middle East crisis?
Now more than ever, children in Lebanon and across the Middle East need our help. Every child deserves to feel safe, to learn, and to grow up healthy. Right now, violence, poverty, and failing services are stealing those basic rights from far too many children. Our staff and those we serve deeply appreciate the continued prayers of our donors and partners.
Gifts to support these and other urgent relief efforts can be made to our Disaster Relief Fund.
Amy Van Drunen of World Vision in the United States contributed to this article.
