--- title: "War in the Middle East" description: "The crisis in the Middle East is directly impacting millions of lives and causing uncertainty across the world. What is it like for people on the ground living through this emergency? How are people surviving?" url: "https://www.nrc.no/emergencies/war-in-the-middle-east" language: "en" published: "2024-10-31T14:21:40Z" modified: "2026-06-01T10:51:50Z" --- ![A person looks on as smoke rises following an explosion](https://www.nrc.no/globalassets/_findock/content-module-images/rs32951_ntb__yiqn8j5e-m_lpr_1920p_2.jpg) War. Death. Displacement. # War in the Middle East The crisis in the Middle East is directly impacting millions of lives and causing uncertainty across the world. What is it like for people on the ground living through this emergency? How are people surviving? Updated 01. Jun 2026 War in the Middle East *The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is working in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and across the Middle East.* [*![map of NRC programmes in the Middle East region](https://www.nrc.no/contentassets/6cbd7b116a5a46a891ee99153820d4da/middle-east-sitrep-map-2.1_800p.jpg)*](https://www.nrc.no/contentassets/6cbd7b116a5a46a891ee99153820d4da/middle-east-sitrep-map-2.1_1920p.jpg) ### Latest updates - ![Home in Gaza: the day I had to leave](https://www.nrc.no/globalassets/images/countries/palestine/2026/mohammed.jpg) [Home in Gaza: the day I had to leave](https://www.nrc.no/feature/home-in-gaza-the-day-i-had-to-leave) - [Gaza ceasefire exists in name only, say more than 100 organizations](https://www.nrc.no/news/2026/norwegian-aid-budget-fails-to-meet-target-as-revenues-rise/gaza-ceasefire-exists-in-name-only-say-more-than-100-organizations) - ![Gaza: Israeli restrictions mean entry of winter shelter materials will take over seven months](https://www.nrc.no/globalassets/05_press/photos/palestine/rs40216_272a0007.jpg) [Gaza: Israeli restrictions mean entry of winter shelter materials will take over seven months](https://www.nrc.no/news/2026/gaza-israeli-restrictions-mean-entry-of-winter-shelter-materials-will-take-over-seven-months) - ![Yemen: 15,000 people arrive in NRC-supported displacement sites](https://www.nrc.no/globalassets/05_press/photos/yemen/rs39380_vlcsnap-2026-09-24-09h16m01s666.png) [Yemen: 15,000 people arrive in NRC-supported displacement sites](https://www.nrc.no/news/2026/yemen-15000-people-arrive-in-nrc-supported-displacement-sites) - [Gaza building collapse exposes human cost of shelter restrictions](https://www.nrc.no/news/2026/gaza-building-collapse-exposes-human-cost-of-shelter-restrictions) - ![Hope and hardship](https://www.nrc.no/globalassets/images/countries/syria/2026/hope-and-hardship-syrians-returning-home/rs36661_dsc04867.jpg) [Hope and hardship](https://www.nrc.no/perspectives/2026/hope-and-hardship) - ![Yemen: Tens of thousands homeless as entire communities are forced to flee](https://www.nrc.no/globalassets/05_press/photos/yemen/rs38968_img-20260904-wa0008.jpg) [Yemen: Tens of thousands homeless as entire communities are forced to flee](https://www.nrc.no/news/2026/yemen-tens-of-thousands-homeless-as-entire-communities-are-forced-to-flee) - [Lebanon: Civilians continue to be killed as deadly hostilities persist despite June agreement](https://www.nrc.no/news/2026/lebanon-civilians-continue-to-be-killed-as-deadly-hostilities-persist-despite-june-agreement) - ![Under attack: learning in war zones](https://www.nrc.no/globalassets/images/perspective/2026/education-under-attack-article/rs37753_dscf4979.jpg) [Under attack: learning in war zones](https://www.nrc.no/perspectives/2026/under-attack-learning-in-war-zones) - ![Masara's paper plane](https://www.nrc.no/globalassets/images/countries/chad/2026/masaras-paper-plane/screenshot-2026-09-03-at-11.56.06am.png) [Masara's paper plane](https://www.nrc.no/feature/2026/masaras-paper-plane) - [Se alle](https://www.nrc.no/search?q=&searchCategories=123,125,172,335,27,67,74,94,108) ### What is happening? In late February 2026, the United States and Israel launched a sustained campaign of strikes on Iran, triggering retaliatory attacks that spread across the wider region. In early March, hostilities expanded to Lebanon. Millions of civilians across the region were killed, injured and displaced, with essential services severely disrupted. Temporary ceasefires were reached in Iran and Lebanon in April, but they are fragile. Civilians cannot afford yet another ceasefire collapsing into a new round of bloodshed. This page contains NRC's latest updates on the crisis. ### What NRC is doing: - In **Iran**, we have scaled up life-saving support to families whose lives have been devastated by the war. More than 4,000 families have received cash assistance, with verification ongoing for thousands more. We are providing psychosocial support to children, parents and teachers across five provinces. We have also set up temporary learning spaces, delivered non-formal classes and education cash assistance, and repaired damaged schools. * In **Lebanon**, we are supporting people with relief items, hygiene kits, fuel, drinking and domestic water and cash. We are also providing legal support and education activities for children. We prioritise those most in need, regardless of nationality, status, or location. + **We are speaking up** for protection of civilians and and urging the international community to fund humanitarian assistance for people affected by the war. *Millions are fleeing and have lost everything. Families need urgent support now. **You can make a difference**.* [Donate now](https://support.nrc.no/middle-east/?frequency=One-time&amountgroup=lowest&o1=45&channel=Web&campaignid=701Qw00000ciynNIAQ&utm_source=article&utm_medium=Web) ## More on [#War and conflict](https://www.nrc.no/themes?categoryId=308)