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Middle East and North Africa

Humanitarian assistance in the Middle East and North Africa

Decades-long conflicts, displacement, natural disasters, and economic decline has resulted in a humanitarian crisis in the Middle East and North Africa region. Working with local Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, the Canadian Red Cross provides vital support to partner National Societies as they help individuals and communities in the region recover from emergencies and respond to disasters.

Our work in the region

 

Middle East Humanitarian Crisis

A man in a red IFRC vest stands in front of a truck with humanitarian supplies.
(Photo credit: IFRC)
 

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East region is impacting millions of people and generating unimaginable humanitarian needs, further exacerbating an already complex and protracted large-scale humanitarian crisis in the region.

You can help by donating to the Middle East Humanitarian Crisis Appeal.

Learn more

Israel

A group of people standing in front of buildings with a fire in the background
(Photo credit: Magen David Adom and IFRC)

The Canadian Red Cross and Israel’s National Society, Magen David Adom, work together to strengthen emergency response capacity. One example of this partnership is ongoing collaboration on disaster preparedness and planning, as well as disaster response training and simulations in Israel and Canada.

You can help people impacted by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Middle East by donating to the Middle East Humanitarian Crisis Appeal.

Lebanon

Two men in red vests holding up a white box with the Government of Canada logo
(Photo credit: Lebanese Red Cross)


The Canadian Red Cross has been working closely with the Lebanese Red Cross since 2015 to support the population’s critical health needs.

You can support this work by donating to the Lebanon Humanitarian Needs Appeal.

Learn more

Occupied Palestinian territory


(Photo credit: Palestine Red Crescent Society)

Since 2014, the Palestine Red Crescent Society and the Canadian Red Cross have partnered to deliver emergency health and response services to affected populations, and to strengthen the Palestine Red Crescent Society’s ability to be prepared for and respond to emergencies. 

You can support people impacted by the ongoing humanitarian crisis by donating to the Middle East Humanitarian Crisis Appeal. 

Learn more

Syria

A woman wearing a white head scarf and gloves helping a child in a wheelchair
(Photo credit: Mari Aftret Mortvedt / ICRC)

The Canadian Red Cross has actively supported the Syrian Arab Red Crescent since 2015, focusing on healthcare needs and emergency response services. 

 You can support this work by donating to the Syria Crisis Fund. 

Learn more

Libya

A group of people in red jackets standing in flood water
(Photo credit: Libyan Red Crescent)

In September 2023, Storm Daniel hit the north-eastern part of Libya, impacting 1.2 million people in the coastal areas and cities. This led to massive flooding, resulting in loss of life and severe impacts to infrastructure. Overwhelmed by floodwaters, dams in Derna collapsed, leading to the surge that swept away nearly a quarter of the urban area. Derna’s hospital was badly damaged, and services continue to be impacted, complicating relief and recovery efforts.  

Thanks to donations to the Libya Floods Appeal and support from the Temerty Foundation, the Canadian Red Cross sent a team of humanitarian experts and supplies to help the Libyan Red Crescent Society provide mental health and psychosocial support to people affected by the floods. This included setting up a community centre in Derna, a safe place where people can request support.

The Canadian Red Cross is grateful to the Government of Canada for funding that allows us to maintain our field hospital supplies and train our delegates.

The Canadian Red Cross also supported by sending relief supplies from the Government of Canada stockpiles to the Libyan Red Crescent Society. This includes blankets, hygiene kits, and kitchen sets that have been distributed by the Libyan Red Crescent Society. 

Support to the Libya Floods Appeal was vital in helping the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement respond. Learn more about how your support helped.

Morocco

A group of people in red vests carrying a large bag on their backs
(Photo credit: Benoit Carpentier / IFRC)

The earthquake that hit Morocco on September 8, 2023 had a preliminary magnitude of 6.8, with a 4.9-magnitude aftershock hitting 19 minutes later. The earthquake struck within the Moroccan High Atlas Mountain range, roughly 75 km southeast of Marrakech.

Thanks to the generosity of people living in Canada, the Canadian Red Cross is contributed funds to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help respond to immediate needs of people affected by the earthquake, as well as personnel to support the response.

Read about how donations to the Morocco Earthquake Appeal helped the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement respond to the 2023 earthquake.

Yemen

A person in a red vest and a person in black clothing sitting on the ground
(Photo credit: Yemen Red Crescent Society)

People in Yemen are facing a dire humanitarian situation after years of conflict and a collapse of the country’s basic services. The Canadian Red Cross and our partners, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Yemen Red Crescent, support humanitarian health care needs in Yemen with health activities that have a particular focus on community-based epidemic preparedness and response. Those interested in helping can donate to the Yemen Humanitarian Crisis Appeal.