Crisis in the Middle East

Displacement and the Humanitarian Response

Escalating violence and instability across the Middle East have forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. Jesuit Refugee Service is responding with emergency assistance and support for displaced communities across the region.

Across the Middle East, ongoing conflict, economic instability, and political tensions have forced millions of people to flee their homes. People in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan continue to face displacement, poverty, and uncertainty as regional violence intensifies.

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The latest escalation has forced more than one million people from their homes in Lebanon. Some families are sheltering in public schools and collective shelters. Others are staying with host communities in increasingly overcrowded conditions. Women, children, migrant workers, refugees, and families already living on the margins are facing especially acute risks.

For many forcibly displaced people in the Middle East, this is not a new crisis. It is another chapter in a prolonged cycle of instability, loss, and repeated displacement.

Quick Facts on the Crisis in Lebanon and in the Middle East

Since the escalation of hostilities on March 2, 2026, fatalities in Lebanon have risen to 1,238 and injuries to 3,543.
More than 1,049,000 people have been displaced across Lebanon.
Around 136,147 people are sheltering in 663 collective shelters, and 35,170 families are living in those sites.
Tens of thousands of people have recently been displaced in Lebanon following renewed violence in the region.
More than 300 schools are closed, leaving more than 200,000 students without schooling
At least 56 health facilities have been impacted.

A Region Facing Long-Term Displacement

The Middle East has experienced repeated waves of displacement for more than a decade. Conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and neighboring countries have uprooted millions of people and placed enormous pressure on host communities, public services, and humanitarian systems. The current escalation in Lebanon is intensifying an already fragile regional situation. Humanitarian organizations warn that renewed violence risks worsening an already fragile situation for refugees and host communities alike.

People who flee often lose access to stable housing, education, healthcare, and livelihoods. As violence continues and humanitarian needs grow, the consequences are felt not only inside Lebanon, but across the wider region.

How Jesuit Refugee Service Is Responding

Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) has worked in the Middle East for decades, accompanying refugees and displaced communities affected by conflict and instability.

As the crisis evolves, JRS teams across the region are shifting programs to emergency response in order to support families who have been forced to flee.

In Lebanon, for example, at Saint Joseph Church in Monot, the JRS shelter continues to provide essential support to displaced migrant workers and families. In addition to meeting immediate basic needs, JRS is offering a broad package of protection services, including awareness sessions, structured psychosocial support activities, individual psychological counseling, case management, and legal assistance. You can learn more about JRS’ response in Lebanon here.

As of March 27, the JRS shelter was supporting 81 families and 192 individuals. JRS and partners had also helped provide 130 hygiene kits, 95 cleaning tools, 17 baby kits, 200 food kits, 160 dignity kits, and 30 blankets, along with health consultations, psychotherapy sessions, and referrals for specialized care.

Across the region, JRS programs focus on restoring stability and dignity through services such as:

Emergency assistance and distribution of essential supplies
Education programs for children and young adults
Mental health and psychosocial support
Livelihood and skills training programs
Community accompaniment and protection services

JRS currently works in several Middle Eastern countries including Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan providing humanitarian assistance to refugees, internally displaced people, and vulnerable host communities.

Supporting Communities Through Crisis

In many communities, JRS programs provide a lifeline for families facing displacement.

Even amid the crisis, JRS has resumed regular programming as quickly as possible, primarily through online modalities. Education activities have restarted across all locations, along with mental health and psychosocial support and youth engagement interventions. Livelihoods programming is still being adapted to fit the current context, while women previously enrolled in livelihoods activities continue receiving case management and psychosocial support.

This continuity matters. In prolonged emergencies, emergency relief alone is not enough. People also need stability, care, and connection to the services that help them rebuild their lives.

JRS is coordinating closely with partner organizations to expand support and reduce gaps in service delivery. Partners named in the report include Relief International, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Save the Children, the Middle East Council of Churches, Cirquenciel, and others.

Why This Crisis Matters Beyond the Region

Humanitarian crises in the Middle East often have global consequences. Large-scale displacement affects regional stability, humanitarian systems, and migration patterns around the world.

Many people who flee conflict initially seek safety in neighboring countries. Others may eventually pursue protection or resettlement opportunities farther away, including in the United States.

International humanitarian assistance plays a critical role in helping displaced communities remain safe and rebuild their lives closer to home. Programs that provide shelter, education, healthcare, and mental health support help stabilize communities and reduce further displacement.

The Impact of U.S. Foreign Aid Changes

The humanitarian response to crises in the Middle East is also shaped by international funding. In 2025, the United States implemented significant reductions to foreign assistance programs as part of a broader review of global aid spending.

Because the United States has historically been the largest single donor to international humanitarian assistance, changes in U.S. foreign aid can have ripple effects across global relief efforts.

Humanitarian organizations working in refugee-hosting countries such as Lebanon and Jordan have reported that funding reductions are forcing programs to scale back services, reduce staff, or prioritize only the most urgent forms of assistance.

For those already facing displacement, reduced humanitarian funding can mean fewer education opportunities for children, limited access to mental health services, and fewer resources for emergency support.

For organizations like Jesuit Refugee Service, sustained international solidarity remains essential. Humanitarian assistance helps stabilize communities, prevent further displacement, and support families rebuilding their lives after conflict.

Standing with People Forced to Flee

As violence and instability continue to affect communities across the Middle East, the needs of displaced families remain urgent.

Jesuit Refugee Service continues to accompany refugees and other forcibly displaced people in the region providing emergency assistance, education, and support to help communities rebuild their lives with dignity.

Even amid uncertainty and displacement, local communities, faith organizations, and humanitarian workers continue to stand alongside those forced to flee.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Middle East Crisis

Why are people being displaced in the Middle East?

People across the Middle East are being displaced due to armed conflict, political instability, and economic crises. Violence in countries such as Syria, Iran, Iraq, along with recent escalations affecting Lebanon, has forced people to flee their homes in search of safety.

How many refugees are in the Middle East?

The Middle East hosts millions of refugees and displaced people. Countries like Lebanon and Jordan host large refugee populations, particularly people who fled the war in Syria. Lebanon has one of the highest refugee populations per capita in the world.

What does Jesuit Refugee Service do in the Middle East?

Jesuit Refugee Service supports refugees and displaced communities through education, mental health and psychosocial support, emergency assistance, and livelihood programs. JRS teams work directly with local communities to help families rebuild stability and dignity after displacement.

How do changes in foreign aid affect humanitarian response?

When major donors reduce humanitarian funding, organizations may be forced to scale back services or prioritize only the most urgent needs. This can limit access to essentials like shelter support, education programs, and mental health services for displaced families.

Sources

The data referenced on this page comes from international humanitarian agencies and reputable reporting tracking displacement and refugee trends in the Middle East.