Support on-the-ground relief efforts and local organisations in Southwest Asia and North Africa

While reinforcing our solidarity with all people, including our members, partners and staff in Lebanon, Palestine and other countries in the Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) region suffering violence and rights violations as a consequence of the Israel-US attack on Iran, APC has gathered some information on ways to support local efforts during this critical time. 

The list below collects information on groups on the ground that those in a position to provide support can reach out to. It also gathers information shared by members of our network in the region. It will be continuously updated as we receive more information from our community.

Financial support

In this section we offer information shared by our local partners. Provide support where you can. We also encourage our readers to share this information with their networks. 

• KHAMSA magazine has compiled a list of organisations working to provide emergency relief, shelter, food and medical support to those affected in Lebanon. Some are long-standing civil society organisations, others are grassroots initiatives responding in real time, all focused on helping people rebuild and stay safe. Read their list here. 
   
• Thousands of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are currently facing renewed displacement, loss of homes and severe shortages of food, medicine and shelter. Local Palestinian mutual aid groups and community volunteers are responding on the ground right now, providing emergency food parcels, mattresses, hygiene supplies and support for families forced to move. These groups rely on direct community solidarity to keep going. You can find their updates here and donate directly here and here. 
   
• Emergency fundraiser for forcibly displaced Palestinians in Lebanon: The funds will help with transportation to safer areas, food and clean water, sanitary supplies and menstrual products, emergency shelter and temporary housing. 
   
• The Emergency Response Coalition: Voices of the Unseen is calling for immediate financial and in-kind donations to support emergency housing, healthcare access and basic survival needs.
   
• Reclaim Our Rights – Community-Led Humanitarian Assistance: This collective is a group of migrant women activists from Kenya, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Cameroon and the Philippines, dedicated to defending the rights and dignity of migrant workers in Lebanon.  
   
• Egna Legna Besidet (an Amharic language term that loosely translates to “migrants for migrants”) is a Beirut-based humanitarian and advocacy organisation run by migrant women domestic workers.  
   
• AWID is sharing this list of solidarity actions organised by communities on the ground, including urgent statements and mutual aid initiatives.
   
• As in previous escalations, women and girls are disproportionately affected, facing displacement, economic collapse, heightened risks of gender-based violence, and limited access to healthcare and protection. The community-based non-profit grassroots feminist organisation FEMALE is on the ground conducting rapid field assessments and preparing interventions to support women and girls most affected in Lebanon. Contributions can be made through bank transfer:
  Bank name: BLOM BANK SAL 
  Bank SWIFT code: BLOMLBBX 
  Branch: CHOUEIFAT 
  IBAN: LB55 0014 0000 5202 3531 4585 5415 
  Account name: FE-MALE

Resources and engagement avenues

Palestine Digital Activism Forum 2026, organised by 7amleh – The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media
In times of war, the battle over narrative becomes even harsher, and the truth becomes a target for distortion. At the Palestine Digital Activism Forum 2026, people will come together on 30 and 31 March to learn how to counter disinformation, protect our digital spaces and uphold the truth. Register here.

Threatening messages target Lebanese phones: delivery tactics and safety guidance
With the recent escalation of Israel’s war, Lebanon’s residents have reported receiving threatening phone calls and text messages asking them to evacuate the buildings they are in. These messages have been reaching a large number of residents in a semi-random manner, an occurrence which was observed in the 2024 war. These threats have caused widespread panic among residents due to the fear inflicted by Israel’s consistent targeting of residential areas. Our member in the country, Social Media Exchange (SMEX), published a piece on possible methods through which these messages and phone calls might operate, as well as gathering practical safety tips. Read more. 

SMEX warns of risks related to scanning QR codes on Israeli leaflets
SMEX urges all the residents of Lebanon to refrain from scanning these codes or accessing any links or channels mentioned in these leaflets, as they could pose a serious threat to your personal safety and security. Read more. 

#ReconnectGaza: A global campaign to restore connectivity in Gaza
In 2025, 7amleh – The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media, in collaboration with the Palestinian Digital Rights Coalition and dozens of international organisations, launched #ReconnectGaza, a global campaign to demand rebuilding Gaza’s telecommunications network and safeguard the right to communication as a fundamental human right. This campaign comes in response to the deliberate destruction of Gaza’s telecommunications infrastructure amidst the genocidal onslaught, which has left millions cut off from the world, restricted emergency response efforts, and further crippled an already devastated economy. Find out more about the campaign. 

Please share if you are working on something that you would like the APC community to amplify, or information about reliable local groups to whom financial support could be provided: communications@apc.org