How and where DEC charities are responding in the Middle East

Conflict in the Middle East has devastated lives across the region, and millions have fled their homes in search of safety.  People are in urgent need of food, water and medical care. DEC member charities and their local partners are working in Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank and Syria now to provide life-saving aid. 

Currently the whole of Gaza is at risk of famine, and people are facing extreme levels of food insecurity. With desperately limited supplies of aid, the situation is critical.

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 But months on, many are still cut off from basic services.

DEC charities also continue to support people in the West Bank and Syria, and are constantly adapting their programmes as the situation continues to change. 

How donations are being spent

Since the end of the temporary ceasefire in March 2025, extremely limited aid supplies are now entering Gaza but the devastating humanitarian crisis continues to deteriorate.

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

The assessment found that 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. Half a million people, one in five of the population, are facing starvation. The UN recently described Gaza as 'the hungriest place on Earth'.

Without any deliveries of external supplies for a long period, 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.

Right now, even in these dire circumstances, DEC charities and their local partners are still finding ways to provide support. Each day brings new and unexpected challenges, and they are constantly adapting their operations to deliver whatever aid they can - as they have done throughout the crisis.

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 have also benefitted from longer-term progress made during that time, such as water system repairs and support for local farmers. But this follows the longest period that aid has not been allowed into Gaza since the conflict escalated in October 2023. 

The response in Gaza

Examples of how DEC charities and their local partners have supported people in Gaza over the past month include:

  • Age International has been working with their local partner to support a number of ‘Tekkyas’ - local community kitchens - with food and fuel. 
     
  • ActionAid's local partner in Gaza have been able to deliver fresh vegetables in food packages.
     
  • The British Red Cross is supporting its local partner, the Palestine Red Crescent Society, to provide medical care to some of the many sick and injured.
     
  • Save the Children have been providing emergency nutrition support to pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers and their children. 
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.

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, many still desperately await news of their loved ones. Thousands of people have been displaced, and many 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.