Middle East and North Africa  

Iraq, humanitarian crises

Our impact in 2022  

8 countries 

in the Middle East and North Africa where Terre des hommes is active

549,200 children  

and members of their communities have been supported by our projects in the Middle East and North Africa  

more than 2,000  

girls and young women both at risk and already married have been monitored in Lebanon

Climate / drought

Child protection  

Children and young people account for around half the population in the Middle East and North Africa. Most are exposed to endemic political and economic instability, exploitation and forced migration. The war in Ukraine has resulted in runaway inflation, and fuel and food shortages, causing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Exacerbated by poverty and massive inequality, underage marriage and child labour are rising continuously.  

“We are seeing more and more very young children, sometimes scarcely 4 or 5 years old, working,” says Alice Hujairi, Tdh project manager in Lebanon. In these circumstances, worsened by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, plus the droughts in Iraq and Afghanistan caused by climate change, the situation is more than worrying. Working in conjunction with local partners, community leaders and the authorities, Terre des hommes has to respond as a matter of urgency to protect children’s basic rights, access to education and justice.  

Can you help children in the region?  

Child marriage in Lebanon - A consequence of the Syrian crisis

At the drop-in centre with Alaa  

Alaa, Lebanon
Alaa, 12 years old
Syrian refugee in Lebanon

“The most important thing I’ve learned is how to protect myself and my friends. I also learned that I have rights, so for example, when a child is sick, they have the right to be treated.”  

Originally from Syria, 12-year-old Alaa has been a refugee in Tyre, Lebanon for months. She takes delight in meeting her friends every day in a house surrounded by a garden. Reserved for children and young people, this drop-in centre was set up by Tdh with support from the Lebanese NGO the Women’s Humanitarian Organization (PWHO). Suffering from a cardiovascular disease, the young refugee was able to stop working in the coal plant where she used to have to go every morning before school to help her family.  

Sarah*, 15, lives in the West Bank in Palestine and she participated in Mental Health Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) sessions, among other children. The activities dedicated to those groups focused on drawing their attention to skills that will enable them to assess protection and psychosocial concerns among children, including children with disabilities. Along the way, they improve their skills through initiatives led by adolescents themselves. The purpose of this project, supported by the oPt HF, lied within impacting the community as a whole ultimately.

Infosheets

Media library
Two Pager Lebanon
Two pager Syria
Two pager Egypt
Two pager Afghanistan
Media library

Supported by

Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID)

AECID

The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) is an agency of Spain, created in November 1988 as the managing body of the Spanish international development cooperation policy.
Go to the AECID website
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (BPRM)

Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM)

The Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) is the humanitarian bureau of the United States Department of State. PRM promotes the interests of the United States by providing protection, alleviating suffering, and resolving the problems of persecuted and forcibly displaced persons around the world.
Go to the PRM website
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

Le Bureau de la démocratie, des droits de l'homme et du travail (DRL)des Etats-Unis défend des valeurs universelles, notamment le respect de l'État de droit, des institutions démocratiques et des droits de l'homme
Aller au site DRL-US
Caritas Germany

Caritas Germany

Caritas Germany supports relief and rehabilitation during and after disasters, supports (for funding and counselling) social programmes for disadvantaged children, people with disabilities, women's empowerment, the elderly, various other social programmes and peace building activities in Germany and in 165 countries worldwide.
Go to Caritas Germany website
Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA)

Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA)

The Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA) is a collaboration of Dutch humanitarian NGOs that aims to improve the effectiveness, reach and quality of humanitarian aid.
Go to Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA) website
ECHO

ECHO

The European Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) funds relief operations for victims of natural disasters and conflicts outside the European Union.

Go to the ECHO website
Education Cannot Wait

Education Cannot Wait

ECW is a $1 billion global UN fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises. ECW protects and supports holistic learning outcomes for girls and boys who are refugees, internally displaced or affected by other crises, so that no one is left behind.
Go to ECW website
European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)

EIDHR

The European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council in March 2014. This thematic instrument is the successor to the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights established at the initiative of the European Parliament in 1994.
Go to EIDHR website
European Commission GD - INTPA

European Commission GD - INTPA

The European Union's Directorate General for International Partnerships is responsible for formulating the EU's international partnership and development policy, with the ultimate aim of reducing poverty, ensuring sustainable development and promoting democracy, human rights and the rule of law worldwide.
Go to the GD - INTPA page
EU Regional Trust Fund

EU Regional Trust Fund

The EU, through the Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis, has adopted a new aid package to support the resilience of refugees, internally displaced persons and host communities in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.
Go to the EU Regional Trust Fund page
giz

German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ)

As Germany's leading service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work, GIZ is dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world. 

Go to the GIZ website
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the channel through which the Dutch government communicates with foreign governments and international organisations. It coordinates and implements Dutch foreign policy.
Go to Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands website
OCHA

OCHA

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is a department of the UN Secretariat, established in 1991. It deals with victims of disasters and emergencies, refugee flows and mass displacement.
Go to OCHA website
SDC

SDC

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) implements the Federal Council's foreign policy on humanitarian aid, development cooperation and cooperation with Eastern Europe and at multilateral level. The SDC focuses its activities on reducing poverty and distress, as well as curbing global risks. It also aims to preserve natural resources for future generations.

Go to the SDC website
Swiss Solidarity

Swiss Solidarity

Swiss Solidarity is Switzerland's humanitarian fundraising and solidarity system. For Terre des hommes, Swiss Solidarity is one of its most important partners, particularly in the case of natural disasters.

Go to the Swiss Solidarity website
UNFPA

UNFPA

The United Nations Population Fund, established in 1967, is the largest source of international development funds for population, family planning and maternal and child health.
Go to UNFPA website
UNHCR

UNHCR

UNHCR - The United Nations Refugee Agency is a programme of the United Nations. Its original purpose is to protect refugees, find durable solutions to help them rebuild their lives and ensure the application of the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention.
Go to UNHCR website
UNICEF

UNICEF

UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund: UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and territories to save children's lives, protect their rights and help them reach their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

Aller au site UNICEF
UNICRI

UNICRI

The Institute is responsible for supporting governments and the international community in general in the strategic planning, formulation and implementation of better policies in the fields of crime prevention, criminal justice and security governance.
Go to UNICRI website
UNRWA

UNRWA

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is a United Nations programme for the relief of Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, dating from December 1949.
Go to UNRWA website
USAID

USAID

USAID is the world's leading international development agency and a catalytic force for development results.
Go to the USAID website
oPt Humanitarian Fund

oPt Humanitarian Fund

The oPt Humanitarian Fund (oPt HF), is primarily aligned to support the delivery of strategic humanitarian response identified under the Humanitarian Response Plan while retaining the flexibility to allocate funds to unforeseen events or special requirements.
Go to the oPt Humanitarian Fund website
Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID)

AECID

The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) is an agency of Spain, created in November 1988 as the managing body of the Spanish international development cooperation policy.
Go to the AECID website
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (BPRM)

Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM)

The Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) is the humanitarian bureau of the United States Department of State. PRM promotes the interests of the United States by providing protection, alleviating suffering, and resolving the problems of persecuted and forcibly displaced persons around the world.
Go to the PRM website
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

Le Bureau de la démocratie, des droits de l'homme et du travail (DRL)des Etats-Unis défend des valeurs universelles, notamment le respect de l'État de droit, des institutions démocratiques et des droits de l'homme
Aller au site DRL-US
Caritas Germany

Caritas Germany

Caritas Germany supports relief and rehabilitation during and after disasters, supports (for funding and counselling) social programmes for disadvantaged children, people with disabilities, women's empowerment, the elderly, various other social programmes and peace building activities in Germany and in 165 countries worldwide.
Go to Caritas Germany website
Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA)

Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA)

The Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA) is a collaboration of Dutch humanitarian NGOs that aims to improve the effectiveness, reach and quality of humanitarian aid.
Go to Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA) website
ECHO

ECHO

The European Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) funds relief operations for victims of natural disasters and conflicts outside the European Union.

Go to the ECHO website
Education Cannot Wait

Education Cannot Wait

ECW is a $1 billion global UN fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises. ECW protects and supports holistic learning outcomes for girls and boys who are refugees, internally displaced or affected by other crises, so that no one is left behind.
Go to ECW website
European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)

EIDHR

The European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council in March 2014. This thematic instrument is the successor to the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights established at the initiative of the European Parliament in 1994.
Go to EIDHR website
European Commission GD - INTPA

European Commission GD - INTPA

The European Union's Directorate General for International Partnerships is responsible for formulating the EU's international partnership and development policy, with the ultimate aim of reducing poverty, ensuring sustainable development and promoting democracy, human rights and the rule of law worldwide.
Go to the GD - INTPA page
EU Regional Trust Fund

EU Regional Trust Fund

The EU, through the Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis, has adopted a new aid package to support the resilience of refugees, internally displaced persons and host communities in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.
Go to the EU Regional Trust Fund page
giz

German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ)

As Germany's leading service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work, GIZ is dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world. 

Go to the GIZ website
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the channel through which the Dutch government communicates with foreign governments and international organisations. It coordinates and implements Dutch foreign policy.
Go to Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands website
OCHA

OCHA

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is a department of the UN Secretariat, established in 1991. It deals with victims of disasters and emergencies, refugee flows and mass displacement.
Go to OCHA website
SDC

SDC

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) implements the Federal Council's foreign policy on humanitarian aid, development cooperation and cooperation with Eastern Europe and at multilateral level. The SDC focuses its activities on reducing poverty and distress, as well as curbing global risks. It also aims to preserve natural resources for future generations.

Go to the SDC website
Swiss Solidarity

Swiss Solidarity

Swiss Solidarity is Switzerland's humanitarian fundraising and solidarity system. For Terre des hommes, Swiss Solidarity is one of its most important partners, particularly in the case of natural disasters.

Go to the Swiss Solidarity website
UNFPA

UNFPA

The United Nations Population Fund, established in 1967, is the largest source of international development funds for population, family planning and maternal and child health.
Go to UNFPA website
UNHCR

UNHCR

UNHCR - The United Nations Refugee Agency is a programme of the United Nations. Its original purpose is to protect refugees, find durable solutions to help them rebuild their lives and ensure the application of the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention.
Go to UNHCR website
UNICEF

UNICEF

UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund: UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and territories to save children's lives, protect their rights and help them reach their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

Aller au site UNICEF
UNICRI

UNICRI

The Institute is responsible for supporting governments and the international community in general in the strategic planning, formulation and implementation of better policies in the fields of crime prevention, criminal justice and security governance.
Go to UNICRI website
UNRWA

UNRWA

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is a United Nations programme for the relief of Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, dating from December 1949.
Go to UNRWA website
USAID

USAID

USAID is the world's leading international development agency and a catalytic force for development results.
Go to the USAID website
oPt Humanitarian Fund

oPt Humanitarian Fund

The oPt Humanitarian Fund (oPt HF), is primarily aligned to support the delivery of strategic humanitarian response identified under the Humanitarian Response Plan while retaining the flexibility to allocate funds to unforeseen events or special requirements.
Go to the oPt Humanitarian Fund website