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Middle East and North Africa

Red Cross humanitarian assistance and work in the Middle East and North Africa region

Decades-long conflicts, displacement, natural disasters, and economic decline have 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

A man in a red IFRC vest stands in front of a truck with humanitarian supplies.
Photo: 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
Two men in red vests holding up a white box with the Government of Canada logo
Photo: 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.

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Photo: 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 Palestine Humanitarian Needs appeal.

Learn more

A woman wearing a white head scarf and gloves helping a child in a wheelchair
Photo: 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. 

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A group of people standing in front of buildings with a fire in the background
Photo: 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.

A group of people in red jackets standing in flood water
Photo: 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 and damaging essential infrastructure including the hospital.  

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 could request support.

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.

A group of people in red vests carrying a large bag on their backs
Photo: 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.

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

People in Yemen are facing a dire humanitarian situation after years of conflict and the collapse of the country’s basic services. More than 19 million people – well over half of Yemen’s population – are in need of humanitarian support, and 17 million people are food insecure.

The Yemen Red Crescent Society is one of the few humanitarian organizations able to continue providing vital support to people in Yemen. This includes providing health care at clinics, supplies to existing healthcare facilities and clean water, as well as repairing water and sanitation infrastructure.

The Canadian Red Cross has worked with the Yemen Red Crescent Society to support their response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis and strengthen their capacity to respond to health needs, including public health outbreaks. This support has included funding Yemen Red Crescent primary healthcare centers, including procuring medical equipment and personal protective equipment, and providing relief supplies such as hygiene kits and food baskets to be distributed to people impacted.