[ [link removed] ]Mercy Corps

Dear friend,

Escalating conflicts in the Middle East have brought new levels of
suffering for millions of people.

In Gaza, aid access remains extremely short of the widespread needs, as
people remain desperate for food, water, and other supplies. In Iran, the
conflict with Israel has expanded the displacement crisis for Afghan
refugees who had previously fled to Iran and are now returning to
Afghanistan — overwhelming humanitarian services at the border.

Mercy Corps teams and partners are working to meet the urgent needs of
families and communities experiencing violence, displacement, and hunger
as a result of these conflicts.

Please read on to learn about our response to
these urgent crises — [ [link removed] ]and if you’re ready to make your
first gift to help us
reach more families in need in 35+ countries, consider making a donation
right now.


[ [link removed] ]Donate now [ [link removed] ]▸



Updates from Gaza


[ [link removed] ][IMG]
Displaced children receive a hot meal of rice at an emergency food
distribution in northern Gaza in April, 2025. Photo: Abed Rahman Baba


As aid restrictions have slowly been lifted, our teams and partners have
continued delivering lifesaving and life-sustaining aid to families who
need it most. And we remain ready to dramatically scale up our efforts as
soon as aid access improves.


[ [link removed] ][IMG] [ [link removed] ][IMG]

 
[ [link removed] ]Mercy Corps is working with a local partner organization, Palestine
Environmental Friends, to provide WASH services to communities in
Gaza. Clean water is delivered via truck, from which families can fill
  their personal containers. Palestine Environmental Friends completes  
regular quality testing at the water source, delivery sites, and in
program participants’ jerrycans. In addition, they ensure delivery
systems are regularly cleaned.
 


Situation in Iran


[ [link removed] ][IMG]
At a border crossing in Herat Province, Afghanistan, the surge of refugees
from Iran is stretching humanitarian services to the limit. Photo:
Faraidoon Osmani / Mercy Corps


The Iran-Israel conflict has triggered a massive exodus of Afghan refugees
from Iran, who are now returning to their homeland after fleeing to Iran
to escape violence in Afghanistan. Even before the conflict began, Iran’s
government had ordered nearly 4 million Afghan people to leave the
country. Since January, more than 450,000 people have returned from Iran
alone.

The sheer number of returnees is overwhelming border facilities and
humanitarian aid efforts. Trade route disruptions and rising import costs
are driving up expenses and limiting access to essential supplies like
food, fuel, and construction materials.

Herat Province is the main returnee hub, with large numbers of people
arriving at border crossings like the one shown above. The spike in
returnees threatens to overwhelm public infrastructure and worsen an
already critical humanitarian crisis, compounded by significant cuts to
foreign assistance funding for Afghanistan.


How we’re responding


Mercy Corps teams are working closely with the United Nations, other
humanitarian aid organizations, and local actors to respond swiftly and
effectively. We’re planning to provide cash aid and urgent water,
sanitation, and hygiene support, with the goal of reaching an initial
8,000 households.

Mercy Corps is working quickly to scale up our operations to meet the
growing needs of Afghan refugees looking to return home.

As
we continue to deliver critical aid to families facing conflict,
displacement, natural disasters, and extreme hunger, [ [link removed] ]will you rush a
donation right now to fuel our work in Gaza, Afghanistan, Iran, and 35+
countries around the world?


[ [link removed] ]Donate now [ [link removed] ]▸


Sincerely,

The Mercy Corps team

[ [link removed] ]DONATE

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