Since the war with Iran started on February 28, 2026, children living in the Middle East have once again been subject to the trauma of war and conflict. The war is growing and impacts are multiplying across countries and communities. Children have been killed or injured across the region – Lebanon, Iran, Israel, and Bahrain. Beyond the physical injuries and death toll, children are exposed to trauma, fear and uncertainty – with disruptions to school and normal routines. Exposure to violence, destruction and loss of loved ones can manifest in children through reactions such as depression, nightmares and difficulty sleeping, aggressive or withdrawn behavior, sadness and fear, among others.
In Northern Israel, children have faced disruptions of school, been exposed to loud explosions and falling shrapnel, and were forced into underground bomb shelters with just 15 seconds to reach safety when sirens scream in anticipation of missile and drone attacks. This reality is especially intense in the municipality of Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel, close to the Lebanon border.
How All Hands & Hearts Has Helped
All Hands & Hearts believes that all children facing trauma and conflict deserve to be supported, and we are committed to responding wherever we can – Gaza, Lebanon and Northern Israel.
An important tool to help manage and address trauma for children is support for child-friendly-spaces, parents and caregivers. Recreational and expressive activities for children experiencing trauma are an important part of helping children cope and eventually recover.
As such, AH&H is supporting child-friendly spaces in community bomb shelters and schools through the provision of children’s healing kits. These kits are for young children and adolescents and include art supplies (coloring books, paint, pads), activities and games, construction games, balls, and toys to help children cope and heal from trauma.
Its practical support to help children cope with the fear and danger of sirens and missiles through play, games and artistic expression.
Since the Iran war began, AH&H has also been distributing essential relief items to displaced families in formal shelters, informal housing, and hard-to-reach communities across Beirut, the Bekaa, the South, and North Lebanon. Distributions reached families who had fled from South Lebanon, Nabatiyyeh, Dahiyeh, and the Bekaa, many of whom were living in private homes and collective shelters in the Beirut suburbs, including Burj Hammoud, Nabaa, and Mar Mikhayel. Distributions were carried out at the Flora shelter, the Mar Mkhayel center, and through direct door-to-door delivery. In recent weeks, we distributed 1,400 hygiene kits to displaced families in addition to blankets, mattresses, women’s and baby kits.
Make a Difference
We’re just at the beginning of this response, and the need is still growing. Your support allows us to continue showing up by working alongside communities, supporting local efforts, and doing everything we can in the coming weeks to help families recover.
Thank you for your support.
