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With funding from the Federal Foreign Office, Johanniter, arche nova, ASB and seven local partners are joining forces to provide sustainable support to vulnerable communities in Syria and Lebanon. The project combines mobile healthcare, food security and WASH measures to alleviate acute hardship and build local resilience.

Millions of people in Syria and Lebanon continue to suffer from the consequences of war, displacement and economic crisis. Many have no reliable access to water, food or medical care. The new consortium, led by Johanniter International Aid, is specifically addressing these gaps. The project is funded by the Federal Foreign Office and donations to Aktion Deutschland Hilft, of which Johanniter, ASB and arche nova are members.

Integrated approach: health, nutrition, WASH. Together with them and seven local partner organisations, the project is pursuing a cross-sectoral approach combining medical care, food security and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) measures. Around 90,000 people in particularly affected communities in northern Syria and Lebanon are benefiting from these measures.

Local partnerships strengthen sustainability

The project is being implemented in close cooperation with local partners in Syria and Lebanon. This strengthens local structures and improves the efficiency of aid. By supporting healthcare facilities and mobile teams, they ensure the provision of basic medical care. Households at particular risk receive support to secure their food supply. WASH measures reduce the risk of waterborne diseases and improve living conditions in communities and emergency shelters.

Particular emphasis is placed on the close integration of the various aid measures. Families receiving treatment at a healthcare facility, for example, can be referred directly to food security or WASH services if required. This ensures that acute needs are addressed more comprehensively and increases the effectiveness of humanitarian aid.

"Particularly in protracted crises, it is important not to lose sight of the people. Together with our partners, we are committed to providing reliable and comprehensive support that addresses acute needs whilst simultaneously strengthening the resilience of communities," says Sevin Ibrahim, Johanniter Programme Manager for Syria and Lebanon.

"More than a decade of war has taken its toll in Syria – destroyed water systems, overcrowded camps for displaced people, a collapsed healthcare system. arche nova is contributing its WASH expertise to the consortium so that, together, we can provide lifesaving aid – in a cross-sectoral, sustainable manner and close to the people," says Julian Jekel, Country Director for Syria at arche nova.

"With this joint project, we are systematically expanding our commitment in Syria and will in future also be able to reach regions where we have not previously been able to operate. Together with our local partner organisations, we are strengthening food security and people's livelihoods. The close cooperation between the Johanniter and arche nova enables us to support people in a needs-based and sustainable manner," says Carsten Stork, Head of ASB's International Aid.

Press contact: Sandra Lorenz, Head of Communications for International Aid, Tel.: +49 (172) 563 87 40, sandra.lorenz(at)johanniter.de

A new international consortium has launched a coordinated humanitarian response to support people living within 0–50 km of Ukraine’s frontlines. 

A new consortium of the German “Johanniter International Assistance”, the Italian “EMERGENCY”, the British “UK-Med”, and Ukrainian “Eleos Ukraine” has started their activities to support people living close to frontline areas in Ukraine. The partners will deliver an integrated package of primary health services, mental health and psychosocial support, energy resilience for health facilities, contingency planning and safe, dignified evacuations for the most vulnerable in Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

The EU Humanitarian Aid and Aktion Deutschland Hilft, Germany, fund these activities, which includes action targeting at‑risk populations within 0–50 km of frontline areas and prioritizes older people, persons with disabilities and those excluded from other assistance. It also includes pre-positioned supplies, emergency simulations and care-for-carers activities to reinforce local health system resilience. The partners aim to reduce immediate suffering, preserve access to essential health services and increase the resilience of health systems under strain.

Johanniter has the consortium lead and will focus on strengthening the energy resilience and winterization measures for frontline health facilities.

"We are honored to launch a major initiative to provide critical aid across Ukraine, implemented in direct coordination with our partners and with the support of European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid. This project is dedicated to meeting the urgent needs of our communities by delivering life‑saving medical care, assisting with evacuations from frontline areas, and providing psychological support to those affected by the war," says Adam McKerrow, Johanniter Country Director for Ukraine.

The British UK‑Med will deploy four mobile medical units to expand access to primary health care in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia. “The need for medical support in Ukraine’s frontline regions remains extremely urgent. Attacks on civilian infrastructure not only damage health facilities but also displace healthcare workers and increase pressure on already overstretched hospitals. Thousands living near the frontline have limited or no access to essential healthcare services. International cooperation and strong partnerships remain essential to sustain this response," explains Lidya De Pascale, Head of Programme, UK‑Med Ukraine.

"Behind every humanitarian statistic is a person, a family, or a community trying to cope with the consequences of the Russian invasion. Through this EU-funded partnership, humanitarian organisations will provide critical support to people living near the frontlines, helping them access healthcare, protection services and safe evacuations. The European Union stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and remains committed to supporting those whose lives have been most affected by the war."

— says Marianna Franco, Head of the EU Humanitarian Aid Office in Ukraine

EMERGENCY will support primary health care (PHC) centres, referral hospitals, and community health workers to maintain essential healthcare services for displaced and host populations. Support includes disease screening and treatment, medical supplies, equipment, infection prevention items, and minor repair works.

Eleos Ukraine will lead targeted evacuations and provide legal, protection and psychosocial services on arrival. "Since the start of the full‑scale invasion, we have been working where help is needed most. In cooperation with Johanniter we will continue to evacuate families, provide psychological and legal counselling, assist with document restoration and support people with essential supplies. Together, we ensure assistance is timely, professional and compassionate”, comments Serhii Dmytriev, Chairman of the Board, Eleos Ukraine.

The project started on 1 May 2026 and runs until 30 April 2027.

For media enquiries and further information: 

Johanniter International Assistance: Sandra Lorenz, Head of Communication 

Phone: +49 172 563 8740, Email: sandra.lorenz(at)johanniter.de