Middle East War: Caritas Switzerland Allocates 300,000 Swiss Francs in Emergency Aid
04.03.2026 | from Caritas Switzerland
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Image rights: Caritas Schweiz / Caritas Suisse
04.03.2026, The humanitarian situation in the Middle East is extremely tense. Following the bombing of Iran by the USA and Israel, the violence is now escalating in Lebanon. Caritas Switzerland, which is present there with its own office, anticipates an increase in displacement movements to several hundred thousand people and is preparing initial emergency measures.
Military conflicts in Iran are spreading throughout the Middle East. "In Lebanon, a large refugee movement has begun," reports Wael Darwish, Middle East Director at Caritas Switzerland, from Beirut. "Many shelters are already full, and people must sleep in tents or under the open sky."
People in southern Lebanon have been urged by the Israeli army to leave their homes. Caritas Switzerland, which has been active in Lebanon for years, currently expects 800,000 to 1 million people to have to flee within these days from the southern areas, the Bekaa Valley and the suburbs of Beirut. Traffic jams have already formed. "We are deeply concerned about the ongoing developments and bombings throughout Lebanon, especially in the south, in Beirut, and in the Bekaa Valley," says Wael Darwish.
Food and emergency shelters are urgently needed.
Many people had just recently returned to their homes in southern Lebanon after being displaced during the last military conflicts in 2024. Now they are again losing protection, stability, and access to basic services. "Drinking water, food, and emergency shelters are currently the most urgently needed," says Wael Darwish.
Caritas Switzerland, together with local partner organisations AMEL and Caritas Lebanon, is preparing the distribution of these essential supplies. As an initial emergency measure, Caritas Switzerland has allocated 300,000 Swiss Francs for emergency aid in Lebanon. Further measures in the region are being considered.
Caritas calls for a ceasefire.
Caritas Switzerland urgently calls on all parties to exercise restraint, return to diplomacy, and de-escalate immediately. Caritas appeals for an immediate ceasefire, the protection of civilians, and the consistent upholding of international humanitarian law.
Wael Darwish says: "The civilian population must not pay the price of further violence. Every effort must be made to protect human lives and maintain stability in the region."
Contact:
Livia Leykauf
Media Spokesperson Caritas Switzerland
medien@caritas.ch
076 233 45 04
Editor's note: Image rights belong to the respective publisher. Image rights: Caritas Schweiz / Caritas Suisse
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Caritas Switzerland
Caritas Switzerland prevents, alleviates and fights poverty in Switzerland and globally in around 20 countries. Caritas Switzerland is an independent association based in Lucerne and a member of the international Caritas network, which comprises 160 organisations worldwide.
Together with the regional Caritas organisations, Caritas Switzerland is committed to people affected by poverty in Switzerland: families, single parents, the unemployed, working poor. In the areas of poverty alleviation and asylum and integration, Caritas Switzerland offers a wide range of services.
Worldwide, Caritas provides emergency aid in disasters and is involved in reconstruction. In its development cooperation projects, Caritas is committed to income, climate, and migration for children and adults.
Caritas stands for a solidarity-based society and a policy that takes into account socially disadvantaged people domestically and abroad. It engages in analyses and statements on climate, social, migration, and development policy.
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Source: Caritas Switzerland, Press release
Original article published on: Nahostkrieg: Caritas Schweiz spricht 300'000 Franken Nothilfe