War in the Middle East

What is happening in the Middle East?

The escalation in Gaza has entered a second year, wreaking havoc across the region. 

Palestinian armed groups continue to hold Israeli hostages captive, while Israeli bombardments and ongoing hostilities have left the entire population of Gaza is shattered by death, loss and displacement. 

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed, over 100,000 injured. 90 per cent of Gaza’s population is displaced.

The exchange of rockets between northern Israel and southern Lebanon descended into an open, deadly conflict in September 2024.

Israeli airstrikes across Lebanese villages and cities, including the capital Beirut, killed and injured thousands, and displaced over a million people in Lebanon – more than one fifth of its population. 

The displacement crisis in Lebanon left people seeking shelter in schools, while hundreds of thousands fled to war-torn Syria.

A ceasefire agreement was signed between Israel and Lebanon on 27 November. Families who have or are now returning home are grappling with destroyed homes and infrastructure, limited basic services, and health risks due to unexploded ordnances. Israeli troops remain stationed in dozens of southern Lebanese villages and families  have been ordered not to return yet.

In Syria, Bashar al-Assad's government has fallen after he fled to  Russia. A new transitional government has been formed. While calm has been restored to major cities, fighting remains intense in the northeast. Thousands have returned home while many others have been displaced in December. 

The region is boiling, and the international community has failed to rein in the hostilities. 

Civilians are paying the ultimate price.

What is the situation for civilians in Gaza?

Hostilities have displaced 1.9 million Palestinians. The people of Gaza are starving. Children are constantly sick.

Essentials like food, medicine, fuel and baby formula are out of reach for people, either because of chronic shortages or accelerating inflation. Dinners of sweet potatoes or plain rice have become the norm.

In Gaza, everyday life is almost always the same: running from the bombs, queuing up for water, taking shelter, and sharing condolences.

Watch one man explain how his life has changed in Gaza since 7 October. 

What’s happening in Lebanon?

Lebanon was already suffering from the worst economic crisis in its history. It has been struggling for years to support over a million refugees from Syria and it hosts one of the highest numbers of refugees per capita in the world.

The conflict with Israel, which lasted from October 2023 until a ceasefire was agreed on 27 November 2024, crippled jobs, education, and almost every other vital sector. 

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Thousands of families lost their lands and shops - their only source of income.

Winter will be challenging this year for those who are living in damaged homes and temporary shelters.

Israel has violated the ceasefire several times, delaying critical aid deliver and impeding efforts to stabilise affected areas.

NRC media adviser, Zaynab Mayladan, speaks from southern Lebanon (Instagram)

What is now happening in Syria?

After almost 14 years of conflict, the more than half a century rule of the al-Assad family in Syria has come to an end.

These events must mark a new beginning that puts the needs and aspirations of the Syrian people first.

More than 16 million people across the country need humanitarian assistance. Thousands have now been newly displaced just as the winter cold sets in.

While those who wish to return to Syria must be supported, many will have no home to go back to. The infrastructure has been decimated, and war remnants remain a danger.  Whether still displaced or returning, the lack of basic services in many villages and cities represent a huge concern.

Are aid supplies sufficient?

By no means. In Gaza, a few dozen aid trucks make it inside every day when hundreds are needed. The scale of what people need support with is beyond anything we have seen in recent years.

This is the most dangerous place in the world for humanitarian organisations to operate in. More than 300 aid workers have been killed. They risk their lives to deliver life-sustaining assistance.

For a tin of food or a blanket to make it into the hands of a family, it has to go through an arduous, costly, and inspection-heavy process. Trucks are searched, and some aid items are denied entry. Some of our aid has to wait weeks, even months, before it reaches our teams and can be distributed.

People don’t have that time. Children continue to starve. Malnutrition prevails.

How is NRC responding?

Despite the devastation, we are working to save lives and improve conditions for displaced people.

In Gaza, most of our staff have been displaced along with the rest of the population. But despite the loss, our teams throughout the Gaza Strip have continued to work in near-impossible conditions to provide aid.

We are supporting Palestinians in Gaza with education for children, legal assistance, protection against violence, safe drinking water, cash assistance, and tents and shelter materials for displaced families.

In Lebanon and Syria, we are on the ground, providing the essentials that people have been forced to leave behind, such as hygiene items, mattresses and cleaning supplies. We’re also working to improve conditions in emergency shelters (such as schools) to increase access to privacy and washing facilities.  

What can I do to help?

Here are three things you can do to make a difference.

1. You can donate to support our work in the Middle East and other crises across the world.
2. You can follow us on social media and share our posts so that more people are informed about the emergency situation. Facebook, X (formally Twitter), Instagram.
3. You can subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed about the crisis in the Middle East and the rest of the world.