The Middle East crisis: latest updates

Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies are on high alert across the Middle East following the recent escalation of hostilities. 

Teams are responding to meet urgent humanitarian needs across the region.

"Our colleagues are doing everything they can, with the resources available to them, to reach people in urgent need," said Gabriel Karlsson, the British Red Cross's Middle East country cluster manager. "From Tehran and Baghdad to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Beirut, Red Cross and Red Crescent teams are saving lives minute by minute, working under immense pressure but with unwavering commitment."

Red Cross and Red Crescent response in the Middle East

Currently, teams from Iran, Israel, Lebanon, the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the wider region are responding and ready to scale up their response if necessary.

• In Iran, Iranian Red Crescent Society has deployed 200 response teams providing search and rescue operations, emergency medical assistance, casualty evacuation and immediate relief support to affected communities. Teams were deployed to Hormozgan province following an attack on a school, and are providing emergency medical care, search and rescue, and relief support. There are currently 200,000 people in need of humanitarian assistance.
• In Israel, Magen David Adom paramedics and volunteers have been working across the region to evacuate injured people, reaching over 450 so far. They have deployed ambulances, mobile intensive care units (MICUs), emergency medicycles, and rapid response vehicles. Blood donation drives have also been launched using blood donation vans in residential buildings.
• In Lebanon, the Lebanese Red Cross has mobilised all of its teams and put each of its service centres on full alert. The Lebanese Red Cross's emergency medical service has transported a number of people to hospital and has activated its blood transfusion service. 
• In the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the Palestine Red Crescent Society is on high alert and prepared to respond to any escalation of humanitarian need in the West Bank and Gaza. Due to the security situation, all crossing points for aid and humanitarian assistance into Gaza were closed. Some have since reopened.
• Across the wider region, teams in Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and Syria are on immediate standby to respond where needed, with planning also taking place to assist neighbouring countries.

Humanitarian workers must be protected

People are already suffering the devastating consequences of conflict. They must be spared from the fighting, and humanitarian and medical workers must be protected so they can reach people who urgently need help. 

"[Our teams'] ability to access these areas depends on the protection afforded by the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems, which must be respected at all times," said Karlsson. "We must see full respect and protection of the emblem under international humanitarian law. Our staff and volunteers are humanitarian workers — not parties to any conflict — and they must be protected so they can continue saving lives. 

"How we respond in times like this is vital but being prepared for crises of this scale is the reason why we're able to help as many people as we are now. Our first responders, emergency teams and ambulance crews are ready from day one. As a humanitarian organisation with more than 150 years of experience responding to conflict, natural disasters or health crises, preparedness is at the core of who we are."

"But to do this safely, we need all parties to the conflict to respect the rules of war and international humanitarian law. Only with that protection can our staff and volunteers operate safely and reach people whose lives depend on us.” 

Get help if you're affected by events in the Middle East

• Useful resources for people affected by emergencies overseas.
• Government advice for British people affected in the Middle East.
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