[STATEMENT]
We are deeply alarmed by the sharp escalation of conflict in the Middle East. The conflict is threatening the lives and wellbeing of millions of people. Countless communities are stricken by trauma and the fear of what may come next.
Across the region, people who were already struggling to survive now face repeated displacement, loss and other ripple effects of the violence. Women and girls are at particular risk. In many countries, our CARE colleagues and partners are mobilising responses while working under extremely challenging conditions.
In Lebanon, where renewed airstrikes have forced families to flee, we are supporting Lebanese organisations to provide supplies to the displaced. In Gaza, aid was abruptly cut off at the outset of the renewed conflict, severing access to food, clean water, fuel, and medical supplies, and has since resumed only in very limited amounts despite overwhelming need.
While CARE does not have operations in Iran, our teams in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Türkiye are preparing for further displacement, including potential refugee flows and increased numbers of internally displaced people. This includes coordinated efforts with local partners to pre-position supplies and ensure that cash, food, water, shelter, and other services can be delivered rapidly as needed.
We call on parties to conflict, and those with influence, to make every diplomatic effort to secure an immediate cessation of hostilities across the region. As long as conflict is ongoing, it is critical that all parties to the conflict protect civilians in accordance with their obligations under international law. The safety of humanitarian workers must be guaranteed and full, rapid, safe, and sustained humanitarian access across the region, especially into Gaza and the West Bank, must be facilitated. We remain committed to working alongside our partners to deliver principled life-saving assistance to communities desperately in need.
[ENDS]
For media enquiries contact Marianne Murat on 0466 440 160
About CARE Australia
CARE Australia supports women around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. We work in partnership with local communities to provide equal opportunities for women that they have long been denied: the ability to earn an income, gain access to their fair share of resources, to lead and participate in decisions that affect their lives, and to be able to withstand the increasing impacts of climate disasters and other crises. www.care.org.au
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