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Since February 28, the escalating military violence in the Middle East has been worsening and widening, with humanitarian needs rising rapidly: 

  • More than 2,000 people have been killed, and more than 20,000 people are injured.
  • Nearly 4 million people are internally displaced. In Lebanon alone, more than 810,000 people, including 290,000 children, have been forced to flee their homes.
  • Hostilities have affected 14 countries so far, destroying or damaging schools, hospitals, health centres and energy infrastructure.

The Humanitarian Coalition is raising funds to rush life-saving assistance to people in need in Lebanon, Syria and across the wider region. The campaign runs until March 30, 2026. The Humanitarian Coalition comprises 12 leading international aid organizations in Canada including the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. As a member of the Foodgrains Bank, Alongside Hope is able to participate in and contribute to emergency fundraising appeals. (The other members of the Humanitarian Coalition are Action Against Hunger, Canadian Lutheran World Relief, CARE Canada, Doctors of the World Canada, Humanity & Inclusion Canada, Islamic Relief Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec, Plan International Canada, Save the Children and World Vision Canada.) 

Members of the Humanitarian Coalition are already actively responding to needs in the Middle East, providing food, safe water, emergency health services, temporary shelter, cash assistance, nutrition and psychosocial support to families in Lebanon and Syria. Member organizations are also monitoring and scaling up to respond to urgent needs in Afghanistan, Gaza, Iraq, Jordan, Türkiye and the West Bank. Alongside Hope is actively responding to needs in Gaza and the West Bank.

The Humanitarian Coalition urges leaders to end the violence and seek a resolution that upholds the rights, dignity and safety of all people. Action must be taken by all parties to protect civilians, especially children and families.  

“We are deeply alarmed by the escalating military violence that is shattering lives throughout the region,” says Tiffany Baggetta, Executive Director of the Humanitarian Coalition. “Humanitarian needs are rising by the hour. We are urgently calling on the generosity of Canadians to donate today to support life-saving humanitarian aid for children and families caught in this conflict.”

The Most Reverend Hosam Nouam, Archbishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, issued a statement calling for “the global Church to join us in urgent unceasing prayer. We implore God to protect the innocent – the mothers, the children and the elderly – who are caught in the crossfire of this ‘operation Epic Fury’ and the subsequent ‘crushing responses.’ We pray specifically for a ‘sound mind’ for the leaders of the United States, Israel and Iran, that they might recognize the futility of this bloodshed and turn back from the precipice of a global catastrophe.” 

How you can help


PRAY. Please continue to pray for the innocent people in the Middle East caught in the crossfire of this war.

ACT. Please share our emergency bulletin insert with your parish or community.

GIVE. Support our partner’s life-saving work with the Diocese of Jerusalem by donating online to Alongside Hope’s Gaza and West Bank Emergency Appeal. You can also donate by calling at 1-866-308-7973. Or mail a cheque to Alongside Hope, 80 Hayden Street, 3rd Floor, Toronto, ON, Canada, M4Y 3G2. Please indicate “Gaza/West Bank” in the memo field. 

 

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