Dorcas Yemen has joined international and national organisations in signing a new joint statement warning that families across Yemen are running out of options as hunger deepens and resilience continues to erode.

The statement highlights the growing impact of conflict, economic decline, climate-related shocks and severe funding shortages. Millions of people are facing acute food insecurity, while children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers are among those most at risk.

With humanitarian assistance already reduced, humanitarian organisations are calling on the international community to provide urgent funding, ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and invest in local organisations that are best placed to respond to the needs of their communities.

Dorcas continues to work alongside local partners in Yemen to support people and communities affected by the crisis, strengthen resilience and contribute to protection, recovery and stability. The joint statement underlines the need for collective action to prevent further deterioration and to help families move towards a safer and more secure future.

In Debre Birhan, in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region, thousands of people have arrived after fleeing violence and insecurity in East Wollega, Horo Guduru Wollega, West Wollega, West Shewa and surrounding areas. These areas have experienced prolonged insecurity linked to armed conflict, intercommunal tensions and local disputes, forcing many families to leave their homes in search of safety. The town already hosts many internally displaced people and has become an important place of refuge because of its relative safety and access to basic services. As more families arrive, pressure on shelters, services and host communities is increasing rapidly.

In June and July 2026 alone, more than 1,000 displaced households arrived in Debre Birhan. With existing sites overcrowded, many families are living in unfinished buildings and temporary structures, with limited access to adequate shelter, clean water, sanitation, health services and privacy. A rapid needs assessment by Dorcas Ethiopia highlighted critical gaps in food security, shelter and non-food items, health, WASH and protection. Those facing the greatest risks include women, children, older people, people with disabilities and people with chronic illnesses.

Dorcas is therefore launching an emergency response from 1 August to 31 October 2026 to support 500 newly arrived displaced households, reaching more than 2,500 people. During this three-month period, the project will combine immediate cash assistance with protection support, enabling families to meet urgent needs while strengthening their safety, dignity and wellbeing.

Cash assistance

Through multipurpose cash assistance, households will receive direct financial support so they can prioritise what they need most. This may include food, hygiene items, essential household goods, temporary shelter materials, health related costs or other expenses. Because local markets in Debre Birhan are still functioning, cash assistance offers a fast, flexible and dignified way for families to make their own decisions while also contributing to the local economy.

Protection

Alongside cash assistance, Dorcas will work to promote the safety, dignity and wellbeing of people affected by displacement, paying particular attention to those with specific protection concerns. This may include survivors of gender-based violence, children at risk, older people, people with disabilities, or others in need of specialised support. When such concerns are identified, staff will refer individuals to appropriate services available in the area so they can access the support they need.

Local presence and coordination

With an established presence in Ethiopia, Dorcas is well placed to respond quickly. Dorcas Ethiopia works through its country office and project offices, with local colleagues who understand the context, communities and coordination structures.

The project will be implemented in close coordination with local authorities and relevant government offices, those managing displacement sites, financial service providers, IDP and host community representatives and humanitarian partners.

With experience in humanitarian assistance, Dorcas brings practical capacity and technical expertise to this emergency. The aim is not only to act quickly, but to do so in a way that is accountable, inclusive and rooted in the realities of the communities we serve.

‘I am grateful my windows survived. I don’t know what I would have done otherwise,’ recalls Vira, thinking back to yet another shell landing near her home. Vira, (80), lives by herself in Zaporizhzhia, in the area worst affected by shelling in the ongoing conflict. Following one of the attacks, the ceiling in one of the rooms of her house collapsed due to the blast wave: ‘I saw a bright white glow, and I was very frightened. People died that day, it was horrific.’

People feel most vulnerable during explosions, especially those who are lonely. That’s because the realisation of the unknown and fear quickly creep into one’s thoughts. Vira says that only prayer helps her during such difficult moments.

It is important for Vira to have someone nearby who will listen to her and support her in coping with the anxiety that follows the attacks. Thanks to support from EO Metterdaad, Vira receives psychological support from Dorcas specialist Hanna as part of a home visit programme. During these sessions, the psychologist incorporates elements of art therapy to support Vira in managing the effects of stress. ‘I enjoy our meetings with Hanna. After talking to her, I feel only positive emotions,’ Vira says, smiling. A Dorcas volunteer also visited her to assist with grocery shopping, as this is difficult for Vira due to her advanced age.

Although Vira lives in the city, she has still faced many challenges this winter. Due to pressure fluctuations caused by power cuts, her gas heating was unreliable and poor quality, not to mention expensive. ‘When the electricity came back on, I tried to heat the flat with an infrared heater,’ she explains. To support her during this time of crisis, the Dorcas Ukraine team provided Vira with an emergency response kit to keep her home warm and lit during blackouts. This support has made a real difference to the lives of older people like Vira.

Last February, the Dorcas Ukraine team sounded the alarm about the deepening energy crisis in Ukraine, caused by systematic attacks on the country’s electricity infrastructure. As the situation continued to deteriorate, Dorcas launched a rapid response effort to support those in need, as well as a fundraising campaign in the Netherlands. The campaign focused on raising funds to provide emergency kits and alternative power sources for those affected by the crisis in Zaporizhzhia.

Thanks to the funds raised, Dorcas was able to provide around 250 alternative power sources over the following months. These were delivered to locations supporting those affected by the ongoing crisis. These locations included churches, humanitarian assistance centres, temporary accommodation facilities, social institutions, resilience centres, and other social infrastructure.

The devices were distributed to institutions in fifteen local communities in the Zaporizhzhia region, close to the front line. Recipients included the Regional Transit Centre for Evacuees, the Zaporizhzhia City Council’s Department of Education and Science, the Department of Social Protection, and other public institutions. 

Through this project, Dorcas supports community members in the most vulnerable circumstances and ensures they have uninterrupted access to electricity in areas where this is vital during emergencies. The charging stations provide electricity during prolonged power cuts, which is crucial for communication, receiving assistance, and meeting basic living needs.

Dorcas Ukraine has taken significant steps forward with its psychosocial support programme for internally displaced persons and others affected by the ongoing conflict in the Zakarpattia region. Around 6,800 people have participated in various programme activities, receiving support in the form of group meetings, individual consultations, training events and other assistance depending on their needs.

The Connect programme

A total of 1,216 participants completed the Dorcas Connect programme, which was designed to provide a space for people to reconnect with themselves and others. To ensure that the knowledge and tools acquired through the programme continue to be available to communities, providing sustainable support, training was also conducted for 1,107 Connect facilitators.

Psychosocial support through creativity and music

Sounds of Change training sessions were delivered to 60 facilitators and 23 trainers through the collaborative efforts of Dorcas, the ‘How Are You?’ mental health support programme, the NGO Sol Diez, and the Sounds of Change team of trainers.

These sessions equipped specialists to implement musical and creative approaches in psychosocial support, thereby enhancing the variety and accessibility of the available assistance.

Evidence-based psychological support (PM+)

In collaboration with WHO and the ‘How Are You?’ programme, Dorcas Ukraine continued to promote evidence-based assistance methods. In particular, it focused on the short-term psychological intervention “Problem Management Plus” (PM+).

Training was conducted for four groups, reaching 61 community representatives. The PM+ programme provides people experiencing high levels of distress and reduced functioning with access to quality psychological support at the community level.

This was made possible thanks to the collaboration of Dorcas Ukraine, the NGO ‘Nehemiah’, the ‘How Are You?’ programme, the Zakarpattia Oblast Centre for Social Services and the Zakarpattia Oblast State Administration.

To prevent specialists from facing challenging cases alone, the project team organised 54 hours of group supervision and 572 hours of one-to-one supervision. Supporting those who support others is an essential part of maintaining a high-quality support system.

Amid the hostilities in Ukraine, there has been a significant decline in the purchasing power of people in the most vulnerable circumstances. These include older people and people with disabilities who have been severely affected by the ongoing conflict.

Dorcas provides hygiene kits containing basic essentials to residents of Zaporizhzhia. Thanks to funding from EO Metterdaad, the Dorcas Ukraine team has distributed 210 kits to people with disabilities over the past five months.

Through this joint contribution, hundreds of people have received high-quality care that will prevent complications associated with prolonged bed rest, ease the burden on family members or caregivers, and uphold a sense of dignity in everyday life.

Since the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, Lebanon has seen large-scale internal displacement. Entire villages have been evacuated, families have fled their homes, and children are sleeping on the streets. To respond to this urgent need, Dorcas is collaborating with EO Metterdaad.

EO Metterdaad is a long-running Dutch humanitarian television programme that highlights global crises and supports emergency assistance initiatives. Through this collaboration, Dorcas and EO Metterdaad aim to highlight the real stories behind the statistics and news items and raise funds to support those in need. So many people have had to flee their homes, losing their security in the process, and now rely on assistance.

Arjan Lock, CEO and presenter at the Evangelical Broadcasting (EO), is currently in Lebanon to document and share the stories of those affected. He is meeting displaced families and Dorcas humanitarian staff to witness and record the scale of the crisis for several television broadcasts in the Netherlands.

‘I see how urgent the need is,’ Arjan said. ‘So many people have fled violence while Lebanon itself is already under great strain. Dorcas staff are doing everything they can to support, providing food, blankets, clothing and temporary shelter. But the crisis is bigger than they can manage alone – more support is urgently needed.’

Dorcas’ response in Lebanon

Dorcas has been responding to the urgent needs of people in Lebanon since the beginning of the escalation and is now scaling up its humanitarian assistance. We have also launched an emergency campaign in the Netherlands to raise funds for our work in Lebanon. This allows us to provide life-saving assistance to displaced families.

Najla, Dorcas’ Country Director in Lebanon, explains:
People are terrified and shelters are overcrowded. Assistance cannot wait – people need our support now.

The Dutch TV broadcasts of EO Metterdaad

The situation in Lebanon will be featured in special broadcasts of EO Metterdaad on Saturday 21 and 28 March at 17:50 CET on Dutch channel NPO 2. The programmes follow Dorcas staff as they provide assistance to families who have lost everything.

The photos in this article are made by the EO

Nearly two weeks after the escalation of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the situation in Lebanon has become extremely dire. The sharp rise in bombardments since 2 March 2026 has caused widespread displacement and severe humanitarian consequences. 

Ongoing mass displacement 

On March 13, ReliefWeb reported that one in seven people in Lebanon are now displaced, equating to over 800,000 people. Local sources have informed Dorcas that local authorities already estimate the number of displaced people to be over a million. These figures are expected to rise as continued airstrikes cause widespread chaos and insecurity. 

Large numbers of people continue to sleep in public spaces and along the coast, having fled with few belongings and with no access to safe housing. Shelters are under immense pressure and are severely overstretched, with essential supplies depleting rapidly. 

The situation is highly critical. Women, children, older people and people with disabilities face heightened risks due to overcrowding, psychological distress and restricted access to services. Without continued, urgent assistance, families will face worsening food insecurity, harsher living conditions and an increased risk to their safety. 

Dorcas offering immediate support 

From the very beginning of the escalation, Dorcas has been supporting those in need. Our aim is to contribute to the immediate protection of the growing number of people affected. We do this by ensuring timely access to life-saving food assistance, emergency shelter, essential non-food items and integrated protection support. Our support includes: 

• Hot meals distribution. Dorcas is organising a community kitchen in Mount Lebanon. In partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), the kitchen will distribute hot meals daily to 2,500 people. Dorcas also monitors the distribution of hot meals prepared by WFP partners that are delivered to collective shelters. This programme currently operates in 80 shelters across Beirut and Mount Lebanon. 

• Sandwich distribution. In partnership with our long-term partner Mary’s Meals, we provide over 500 sandwiches daily at several shelters and community centres. 

• Essential non-food items. We are improving the basic living conditions in shelters by providing blankets, mattresses, clothing and hygiene items. 

• Protection services. Dorcas is reducing protection risks for displaced families by providing psychological first aid, case management, group psychosocial support sessions, recreational activities for children and protection awareness sessions in multiple shelters. This involves providing emotional support, identifying at-risk people and referring them to the appropriate services, and sharing information on safety, child protection and available services. 

‘We left with only the clothes we were wearing’ 

Zeinab (68) fled her home with her son and grandchildren and is now living in a temporary shelter for displaced families. In total, eight members of her family share a small space inside the school. ‘We left our home quickly. There was no time to pack anything,’ she explains. 

The journey to the shelter took more than 24 hours. Roads were heavily congested with families fleeing at the same time, turning what should have been a short trip into a long and stressful ordeal. 

‘I was worried the entire time,’ Zeinab says. ‘Not for myself, but for my grandchildren. I tried to stay calm so they wouldn’t feel how scared I was. As a grandmother, I try to stay strong for them. But it is not easy when everything in our lives has changed so suddenly.’ 

On arrival, the family received basic mattresses and blankets to help them settle in. While grateful for the support, daily life in the shelter remains difficult. Like many displaced families, Zeinab and her relatives now rely on humanitarian assistance and community support to cope with each day, while hoping for stability and the chance to return home. 

Over the past couple of weeks, the situation in the Middle East has become extremely volatile. Ongoing missile strikes across multiple countries have significantly destabilised the region. Although conditions continue to shift, the overall environment is one of uncertainty and escalating risk. 

Dorcas maintains country offices in Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Yemen and Iraq. The impact of recent developments varies considerably across these countries, with Lebanon currently the most affected and facing the greatest needs. This update provides an overview of each country office and how the evolving situation is influencing our work. 

Lebanon 

Lebanon is currently facing a severe and rapidly escalating humanitarian crisis. Sustained airstrikes have affected southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, Baalbek‑Hermel, Beirut, and Mount Lebanon. Large-scale evacuation orders have caused widespread panic and mass displacement. This escalation comes on top of Lebanon’s multi-year economic collapse, leaving communities in urgent need. 

According to UNHCR, around 517,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon, with more than 117,000 staying in collective shelters. In addition, in the first week of March, over 70,000 Syrians living in Lebanon and nearly 7,000 Lebanese crossed back to Syria, reflecting the scale of recent movements (source UNHCR, March 9th). Recent numbers indicate a displacement of at least 667,000 people (source UNHCR, March 10th).

Many displaced people are fleeing with minimal belongings, seeking shelter in schools, public spaces, and overcrowded collective shelters. Capacity in these sites is overstretched, with urgent needs for food, safe water, hygiene items, protection, and psychosocial support.

Najla, Dorcas Country Director in Lebanon and Syria, describes:

‘People are out on the roads, on the streets and beaches. They are staying outside at night as they have no place to go. We need to start distributing necessary items, such as food parcels now. People need food today. We cannot wait.’ 

Dorcas has been responding immediately since the beginning of the escalation. The response includes: 

• Distribution of blankets, clothing, cold meals (sandwiches) and food parcels. 
• Monitoring of hot meal distributions. 
• Provision of Psychological First Aid (PFA) and protection support to displaced families and migrant workers. 
• Recreational activities for children and youth to support emotional wellbeing. 

This response is being scaled up rapidly in the coming days and weeks. 

Iraq 

The situation in Iraq is tense. The Dorcas Iraq team is safe and maintaining project activities where possible. Communities are experiencing anxiety, particularly in areas already facing limited services, although many continue to show resilience and remain engaged in programme activities. Our teams remain in close contact with them. 

Our projects in Iraq are somewhat affected by travel restrictions and limited access to certain locations. Some activities in areas such as Sinjar and Basra have been rescheduled due to the security situation. 

In recent days, there have been several recent drone incidents targeting critical sites, including industrial facilities and hotels. These developments are concerning, and Dorcas continues to monitor the situation closely. 

Syria  

The situation in Syria is calm at the moment, and the team has not yet been significantly affected by the recent instability and conflict. Although there have been minor incidents, our colleagues on the ground report that life is continuing relatively unchanged. The Dorcas Syria team has been in regular contact with colleagues in Lebanon, discussing ways to provide support and taking steps to do so. 

Egypt 

The situation in Egypt remains stable. All Dorcas staff, the communities in which we work, and our programmes are safe, and there have been no reports of security threats. The main challenge at present is the substantial increase in prices, which is limiting participants’ access to essential goods and services. 

Yemen 

The situation in Yemen, both in the north and the south, remains relatively calm. There have been no significant new impacts on Dorcas’ projects, and the Dorcas Yemen team is generally coping well. 

However, Yemen continues to face a prolonged crisis that requires urgent attention. In addition, a projected increase in fuel prices is expected to further exacerbate the economic situation. 

The situation in the Middle East has become increasingly unstable in recent days, with ongoing missile strikes reported across several countries in the region. This has led to growing insecurity, disruptions to airspace and transport routes, and rising humanitarian concerns.

While developments continue to shift rapidly, the overall picture is one of regional uncertainty and elevated risk.

Dorcas has Country Offices in Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Yemen and Iraq. Our primary concern remains the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues, partners, and project participants across the region. We continue to follow developments closely.

We kindly ask you to keep the people in the region in your thoughts and prayers, and to join us in hoping for peace and stability across the Middle East.