World Vision’s work in the Middle East

We support people in emergencies

We're committed to helping children who live in the world's hardest places. This includes countries too fragile to have a child sponsorship programme. Countries in the Middle East have experienced decades of conflicts and disasters that have disrupted children’s education, made them fear for their lives and in some cases have to flee their homes.

Thanks to your support, we are able to spring into action in response to emergencies such as the explosion in Beirut, delivering emergency food and hygiene packages to families affected, as well as provide long term development and support to the vulnerable in Afghanistan and Syria.

Where World Vision works in the Middle East

Our work in

Afghanistan

Since 2001, we’ve been bringing relief to people devastated by an onslaught of severe droughts, flash floods and decades of conflict. Moving on from providing immediate assistance, we now focus on providing long-term, community-based development programmes that help free children from the fear of ill health, abuse and limited opportunities.

Our work in

Lebanon

In emergencies, it is children who suffer the most, and the children of Lebanon have experienced many emergencies in a short space of time. We work in refugee camps to keep the vulnerable fed and healthy - a challenge exacerbated by COVID-19, as distancing is virtually impossible in crowded camps. In the wake of the Beirut explosion, with an already weak health system, we responded with hygiene kits, food packages and support kits for families affected.

Three children from India smile into the camera, one boy holding a football

Our work in

Syria

Four out of five Syrians live in poverty and too many children don’t know what it’s like to live without war or violence. World Vision supporters have helped us raise over £1.5 million to support those impacted by the war in Syria. This has helped protect many Syrians and allowed our work to expand with refugees in Lebanon and Jordan, where access to water, food, education and basic health services remain the biggest priorities.

Our work in

Yemen

Yemen is the largest humanitarian situation in the world, with over 24 million people, including 12.3 million children in desperate humanitarian need. Spikes in cholera and dengue fever threatened to overwhelm the already weak health system, even before COVID-19 hit. World Vision works to provide clean water through new and existing water points, and training community Water User Committees to support their maintenance as well as implement social distancing.

Support our work in the Middle East

You can help transform the lives of the most vulnerable children:

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Millions of children are still suffering. Donate to help Syrian children today.

Help children in Afghanistan

Life for Afghan children is a battle for survival. Learn what's happening and how you can help.

Young child on her mothers back at a World Vision run nutrition centre at a refugee camp in Bangladesh

Respond to emergencies

When war and disasters happen, we respond with immediate relief and long-term rebuilding.

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How you can help

Choose how you want to have an extraordinary, positive impact on vulnerable children's lives.

We all have a responsibility to the children of Syria: to help rebuild their country... and to protect their rights – to an education, to a childhood.

Justin Byworth

Global Humanitarian Director, WVI

Protect children caught in emergencies

World Vision has a presence in almost 100 countries which means we can act quickly to help children in the world’s most dangerous places. We help people to survive - through providing life’s essentials like food, water and shelter; to recover from trauma they experienced, and to equip them to rebuild their future.

Because of World Vision supporters funding projects like our Emergency Response, when disasters like the Beirut explosion or COVID-19 strike, we can spring into action in less than 72 hours and provide life-saving support to children and their families.

Citizens in Beirut pick up food and hygiene packages after the explosion that affected thousands

Responding to Emergencies

World Vision in action

As well as the hundreds killed and at least 5,000 injured in the explosion that rocked Beirut in August 2020, an estimated 300,000 people were made homeless by the blast. World Vision's emergency team was on the ground within days, preparing to reach 120,000 people with life-saving aid.

World Vision staff member conducts a home assessment for a Lebanese man who faces away from the camera

Responding to Emergencies

World Vision in action

Teams set to work visiting residents affected to arrange how to support them, distributing essentials including food and hygiene supplies, providing psychological support to children and families affected by the explosion, providing temporary shelters and helping to repair damaged homes.

World Vision staff member wearing a mask talks to a masked woman in front of a box of supplies in Beirut

Responding to Emergencies

World Vision in action

For the thousands of Syrian refugees living in Beirut, the explosion was particularly traumatic. Marwa, 12, said, “We were afraid we did not know what we had to do. Everything reminded me of the war back in Syria.” Thanks to World Vision supporters, we can provide the necessary psychological support to children like Marwa, as well as emergency resources like food.

I want to join the response

Protect children in the most dangerous places in the Middle East

We'll do whatever it takes to reach children most in need, working even where countries are too fragile to support child sponsorship projects. In Afghanistan, a staggering 17 million people are affected by continued active conflict and severe drought, affecting access to water and basic services, and raising protection concerns. We work with communities to ensure they can access essentials like showers and toilets, animal feed to help families recover from the effects of droughts, as well as working to ensure displaced children get access to education.

This lifesaving work is only possible because generous individuals support Childhood Rescue with regular donations, meaning we can support children when their need is greatest. Whatever is happening in the world, you know your donations will reach the most vulnerable children, in the greatest need.

Tell me more

More about our work

From decades of conflict to the biggest refugee crisis since World War II and the explosion in Beirut, the communities we support in the Middle East need the world’s support urgently.

Thanks to the faithful support of people like you, our unique community-based model, refined and expanded over our 70-year history, can focus on key areas to ensure that all children, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender experience the fullness of life.

Our work is driven by a relentless desire to transform the lives of children so we partner with governments, peer organisations, institutional donors and businesses so together, we can have a greater impact in the lives of the families we serve. You can learn more about them and our work below.