How and where DEC charities are responding in the Middle East

Where are donations being spent? 

Since the end of the temporary ceasefire in March 2025, no new aid supplies have entered Gaza and the devastating humanitarian crisis is deteriorating every day.

An IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) assessment conducted between 1 April and 10 May 2025 has found the entire population of Gaza is now at risk of famine.

The assessment found around 244,000 people were currently experiencing the most severe, or "catastrophic" levels of food insecurity, with Gaza’s entire population facing high levels of acute food insecurity, with half a million people, one in five, facing starvation.

Despite the enormous challenges they are facing, DEC charities and their local partners are working tirelessly to support people in these unimaginably difficult conditions.

Their experience in responding during periods of both conflict and ceasefire over the past months has enabled them to ensure they have plans in place to continue some of their work as the situation changes.

During the temporary ceasefire earlier in the year, many DEC charities were able to replenish much-needed supplies such as food, medicine and essential hygiene items. These have helped to sustain their operations over the past weeks..  

Communities are also still benefiting from longer-term progress made during that time, such as water system repairs and support for local farmers.

Without any deliveries of external supplies, DEC charities are now working with local partners to rely wherever possible on the limited goods that are available from local markets, and provide vital cash assistance and psychological support. Their trained medical staff are also supporting as many people as they can, even with medicine supplies running critically low.

This is already the longest period that aid has not been allowed into Gaza since the conflict escalated in October 2023. The UN has described it as “the worst humanitarian situation” since the crisis began. 

The response in Gaza so far

Below are some examples of how DEC charities have been supporting people in Gaza since October 2024. 

• Using DEC funds ActionAid have provided hot meals, shelter service, services, and winterisation items to more than 19,000 beneficiaries so far in the central and southern area of Gaza Strip.
   
• Action Against Hunger, with the support of DEC appeal funds, has provided lifesaving water to more than 120,000 individuals in north Gaza and Gaza City. As a result of damaged water systems, distribution through water trucking remains the only possible source of clean water in some areas.
   
• Oxfam and their local partners are providing families in the Deir al Balah and Khan Younis areas of Gaza with much-needed cash assistance. They will also be providing psychosocial support for women dealing with ongoing trauma.  
   
• The British Red Cross and their local partners are providing vital medical care to some of the many sick and injured, supporting hospitals and clinics and providing essential medicines.  
   
• Concern Worldwide and their local partners have been distributing clean water every two days in Gaza to displaced people living in camps. They are also distributing hygiene supplies, and building sanitation facilities in camps.
   

Lebanon

The ceasefire agreement in Lebanon at the end of last year meant some of the hundreds of thousands of people displaced by conflict could return to their communities and start to rebuild their lives. But months on, many still have no home to return to, and many more are cut off from basic services including water, electricity, and healthcare.

Ongoing violence continues to cause destruction and displacement. The psychological impact of the conflict and its devastating effect on lives and livelihoods is huge.

Some are still living in temporary collective shelters, often public buildings that are unfit for people to be permanently living in. Public infrastructure has also been heavily damaged by the fighting, leaving entire communities without access to essential healthcare services and clean water.

Levels of need in Lebanon remain very high. People require food, healthcare, and shelter.

Examples of how DEC charities are supporting people in Lebanon:

• Oxfam has been providing people displaced outside of collective sites with vital food parcels and items in northern Lebanon.
   
• International Rescue Committee has been providing multi-purpose cash for displaced people and returnees in Bekaa, to meet their urgent and basic needs.
   
• Action Against Hunger has supplied 15,000,000 litres of water across 800 facilities and has reached over 90,000 people with support since October 2023.
   
• Plan International are providing food, and winter kits including blankets and mattresses, and reaching families with essential hygiene and baby kits.
   

The needs remain significant and long-term recovery will take time. DEC charities are supporting families now and in the weeks and months ahead.

The West Bank

Ongoing violence in the West Bank has led to widespread displacement and damage to homes, infrastructure and vital services. Three DEC charities and their local partners have been supporting families by distributing much-needed cash assistance for food items so people can use local markets, and providing winter supplies including warm clothing and shelter support.

Syria

Since hundreds of thousands of people fled across Lebanon’s border to Syria after conflict escalated in September 2024, DEC charities have been working to support people with their most urgent needs. With many families still displaced and living in difficult conditions in temporary shelter sites, a number of DEC charities are working with local partners in Syria to provide vital aid such as food baskets, water and sanitation support, hygiene supplies and warm blankets.

Are any funds from this appeal being spent in Israel? 

The DEC is very concerned about the situation in Israel, and the loss of life and suffering that so many there have faced for so many months. For the hostages and their families, the recent ceasefire offered hope of reunion, after months of uncertainty and grief. But many still desperately await news of their loved ones, thousands have been displaced, and people are dealing with trauma after months of conflict.

DEC appeal responses always focus on those areas where significant humanitarian needs are not being met. For this reason,  funds from the DEC Middle East Humanitarian Appeal are currently supporting people in Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank and Syria, where millions of people urgently need food, water, shelter and medical care.

Find out more.