Crisis in the Middle East

Y-USA and the global YMCA Movement are closely monitoring the tragic events in the Middle East with great concern for the overwhelming impact they are having on the youth, families, communities and YMCAs in the region. Since early October, YMCA of the USA and World YMCA leaders have been in regular contact with our colleagues at both the Jerusalem International YMCA, the East Jerusalem YMCA and YMCA Lebanon.

YMCA of the USA’s World Service Campaign and many associations in the U.S. have been close partners with these Ys for decades, working together to promote cooperation and peace, empower young people and provide needed social services.

The situation in the region is uncertain and evolving rapidly. Our colleagues at both YMCAs are managing the challenges and responding to the humanitarian crisis throughout the region. The specific needs of the people and communities directly affected by the war are many--and significant--and we know the YMCAs are doing everything in their power to meet them.

If you would like to support the humanitarian response of these YMCAs, please consider making a contribution below, and note JIY/EJY/Lebanon, or an individual YMCA, in the Comments/Special Instructions section.

Humanitarian Needs

The humanitarian response funds will be utilized to ensure that the salaries, operations and support services of the Jerusalem International YMCA, East Jerusalem YMCA and YMCA Lebanon remain strong. The East Jerusalem YMCA is currently strengthening and scaling its response efforts throughout the West Bank in the following areas:

Emergency Medical Services:

• Provision of Psychological First Aid (PFA) kits to expand the delivery of emergency psycho-social support services by YMCA counselors to youth and families in isolated and underserved communities in the West Bank
• Distribution of medical aid and supplies, including wheelchairs, crutches, medication, and physiotherapy sessions, to injured and displaced workers from the West Bank and Gaza.

Community Care and Services:

• Distribution of food, hygiene, clothing, medicine and medical supplies to communities and remote villages experiencing increased economic hardship
• Expansion of mental health and psycho-social support outreach to address the rapid increase in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cases