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Norwegian Church Aid is deeply concerned about the war in the Middle East. We are present in several countries in the region.
NCA is present in several of the countries now affected by the war in the Middle East. This picture is from Beirut, Lebanon, where aid workers search through the ruins after an Israeli attack on March 3. Photo: Bilal Jawich/Xinhua/NTB
“We are deeply concerned about the escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, because with increased conflict and war comes increased civilian suffering and greater humanitarian needs,” says NCA’s Head of International Programs, Arne Næss-Holm.
NCA is present in Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine, and has partners and networks in other parts of the Middle East region as well.
What began with attacks on Iran by Israel and the United States on February 28 has now developed into acts of war across several countries.
NCA fears the consequences for the entire region.
“The attacks we are witnessing in the Middle East now are on a completely different regional scale than what we have seen on previous occasions. We fear that humanitarian needs will increase as the conflict escalates. This is happening in a region that already has enormous humanitarian needs and great instability. We fear further destabilization of the entire region,” says Arne Næss-Holm.
“We urge all parties to respect international law, ensure the protection of civilians, and pursue diplomatic solutions to stop a development that benefits no one,” he says.
Norwegian Church Aid is closely monitoring developments in the region and is initiating humanitarian responses in the countries where we are already present. We are continuously assessing how we can respond to the situation in the countries where we work.
Lebanon has been hit by a series of Israeli airstrikes the recent days. Lebanon already has thousands of internally displaced people, and this number is increasing under the current attacks. Norwegian Church Aid’s staff and partners in Lebanon remain at work and are preparing emergency assistance during this crisis. The situation in Lebanon has led to a
wave of Syrian refugees returning to Syria, which will worsen the humanitarian crisis there. Our work in Syria continues as normal, and we have local partners responding with emergency aid to the deteriorating situation.
NCA has been present in Lebanon and Syria since 2012. We work with both emergency relief and long-term development, including providing clean water, improving sanitation and hygiene conditions, and combating gender-based violence. Both countries face major humanitarian crises that have lasted for many years.
NCA has also worked in Palestine for decades, both in Gaza and the West Bank. Like many other humanitarian organizations, NCA has been informed by Israeli authorities that our registration will not be renewed. This means we cannot operate in Palestine in the same way as before. Despite this, NCA is planning to continue delivering humanitarian aid in Palestine through local partners.
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