Children across the Middle East region at serious risk of harm and death - warns World Vision

Press statement, 2 March 2026

This weekend’s escalation of violence across the Middle East is placing millions of children and their families at serious risk of harm and death, warns World Vision International. 

Eleanor Monbiot, Regional Leader for World Vision Middle East and Eastern Europe, said: “We are deeply concerned about this escalation of violence in the Middle East, which is putting the lives of millions of children and families across the region at grave risk. We call for peace and urge all parties to the conflict to de-escalate.”

“Families in the Middle East will now be living in deep fear for what the consequences of this conflict might be, and the threat that comes if it escalates further. Girls and boys across the region are frightened, unable to sleep, and unsure whether their homes, schools, and loved ones will remain safe. No child should have to live with this level of fear and uncertainty.”

 “We know from working with communities in Lebanon, the West Bank, Syria, Jordan, and Türkiye, how ongoing conflict, violence and displacement over recent years and months emotionally and physically damages children. This cycle of violence must come to an end. World Vision calls for peace, compassion, and urgent efforts to protect civilians. The organisation urges all parties to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of families and children, while ensuring humanitarian assistance can reach those in need across the region.”

For the past five decades, World Vision has supported the most vulnerable children across the Middle East and Eastern Europe, working in some of the region’s most fragile contexts. Last year, World Vision reached 8 million people in the region with assistance, including 4.47m children. Three out of five of those helped are women and girls.

Alongside local partners, World Vision responds to emergencies and runs long-term development programmes in 15 countries and territories in the Middle East & Eastern Europe region, reaching children in Albania, Armenia, Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Ukraine, Moldova, Iraq, the West Bank, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Türkiye, and Afghanistan.

With humanitarian needs rising sharply in the region with more than 74 million people in need of assistance, World Vision is focusing on water and sanitation, food and nutrition, child protection, mental health support, education, livelihoods, and climate-smart initiatives.

ENDS

Spokespeople in region available.

Please contact Louise Amodio, World Vision UK Senior Communications Manager: 
louise.amodio@worldvision.org.uk
07957 111780