Standing with our Partners as War Spreads Across the Region

Our partners continue to deliver aid, medical care and support, whilst the war in the Middle East has continued to widen. As regional tensions escalate, missiles and drones have struck multiple countries, and communities across the region are once again living with deep uncertainty.

One of the sobering realities of such rapid escalation is that attention shifts quickly. Headlines move on to the latest developments, yet the underlying humanitarian needs of vulnerable communities often remain unchanged or grow even more acute. This is particularly true in Gaza and the West Bank, where the consequences of conflict continue to place enormous pressure on families, hospitals, and local institutions.

Recently we met with the most Revd Hosam Naoum, the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, alongside the Very Revd Canon Richard Sewell, Dean of St George’s Cathedral in Jerusalem, and Sawsan Aranki-Batato, Director of Programmes for the Diocese of Jerusalem. Their message was clear and deeply concerning: the communities they serve are facing increasing vulnerability as instability spreads across the region.

Hospitals are preparing for rising demand while resources become more uncertain. Movement restrictions, economic hardship, and prolonged instability mean that many families are already struggling to access even basic healthcare. In such circumstances, the continued presence of trusted institutions such as Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza and St Luke's Hospital in Nablus becomes even more critical.

These hospitals are not temporary projects; they are long-standing Christian institutions embedded within their communities. They treat patients regardless of faith or background, often providing care free of charge for those who cannot afford it. Through our partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, Mosaic is helping ensure these hospitals can continue operating even amid deep instability.

This kind of work is only possible because of the network of trusted relationships that has been built over many years. When conflict intensifies and access becomes more difficult, these partnerships become even more vital. They allow support to reach communities quickly and effectively through institutions that are already present and deeply trusted.

At the same time, the wider regional escalation is affecting partners across the Middle East. The Rt Revd Sean Semple, Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf, has shared how they are witnessing the impact directly. Eight countries within that Diocese have now experienced strikes or military activity as part of the current conflict, bringing fear and uncertainty to churches and communities across the Gulf.

We are also hearing from our partners in northern Iraq. Naeel Attala, Mosaic’s field officer in the Nineveh Plain, shared this message with us earlier this week: 

The security situation appears very dangerous in our regions, especially in the Nineveh Plain. There are missiles and drones constantly hovering over our heads. It’s normal here in Iraq; every four or five years we find ourselves in the same dangerous situation. We always say we will continue to live to see more. It’s always difficult, especially now that I have three children. My thinking revolves around protecting them.

His words capture the quiet resilience of communities who have lived with instability for many years, and the human reality behind the headlines.

In moments like this, the role of the Church across the region is both fragile and profoundly important. Christian institutions - hospitals, schools, churches, and community centres - often remain among the few places offering practical care, compassion, and stability to everyone around them.

This is why Mosaic’s emergency appeal for Gaza and the West Bank remains so urgent. Supporting these hospitals means ensuring that emergency rooms stay open, doctors and nurses remain at their posts, and families who have nowhere else to turn can still access life-saving care.

Even as global attention shifts elsewhere, the needs of these communities have not diminished. Please pray and donate if you can.