Women and their families across the Middle East have been forced to flee for their safety.
On 28 February 2026, Israel and the United States launched coordinated military strikes on targets in Iran, triggering a rapidly escalating regional confrontation. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel as well as US-linked military sites across several countries in the Gulf.
The military escalation and growing conflict across the region has already killed over one thousand people, including 168 girls in a primary school, and is placing millions of lives at risk. Many more have been injured as military strikes continue.
Continued displacement in Lebanon
Since the start of March, cross-border tensions have displaced tens of thousands of people within Lebanon, adding to the 1.2 million people who were displaced across Lebanon from previous conflicts.
In southern Lebanon, families have experienced repeated displacement over the past two years of cross-border hostilities and are once again being forced to flee their homes following Israeli evacuation orders.
Marianne Samaha, Head of Programme Development and Partnerships with ActionAid’s local partner organisation Basmeh & Zeitooneh, says the recent military escalation has had a huge impact on communities.
“The families that have fled their homes, have left without their basic necessities, without their belongings, so the needs are extremely high,” she said. “For women and girls, they have particular needs. Many women are pregnant, many women are currently lactating, they have fled with their newborns, with babies, with children. They need safe spaces where they can stay. Specifically, with women and girls there is a high need for hygiene kits, for dignity kits and for menstrual pads.”
Women and their families forced to flee are in urgent need of shelter, food, and safe spaces to protect them from violence. ActionAid staff in Lebanon are on the ground and already responding.
Donate to our Lebanon Emergency Appeal.
Another humanitarian crisis in Palestine
The military escalation is unfolding alongside the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine. In Gaza and the West Bank, Israeli authorities have closed border crossings and checkpoints, severely restricting the entry of humanitarian assistance, food and essential supplies.
Amjad Al Shawa, Director of the Palestinian NGOs Network, describes the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “Only last Wednesday, they opened the crossing partially to get in humanitarian supplies and some commercial trucks, which is not enough,” he said. “There are 300,000 patients, chronic patients, who need their regular medications. What had been entered almost only covered ten percent of the medical needs.”
ActionAid’s local partners in Gaza continue to provide emergency relief, and we urgently need your support to scale our response. Every day without action means more lives lost.
Donate to our Gaza Emergency Appeal.
Protecting women and girls in conflict
The recent military escalation is unfolding in a region already facing significant economic crises, displacement and humanitarian pressures.
In any conflict, women and girls often face the greatest harm. Forced to flee their homes, they’re exposed to more violence and poverty. Women must never be forced to carry the long-term human and economic costs of decisions made by political leaders.
ActionAid works with local partners and women-led organisations who are supporting communities affected by conflict and displacement. Our partners have a specific focus to ensure the needs of women and girls, along with people with disability and the elderly are met.
ActionAid’s local partners are already on the ground and providing emergency response. We urgently need your support to scale our response to meet the growing need for food, shelter, and safe spaces. Please give generously today.