Australia is deeply concerned by conflict in the Middle East and we are monitoring developments in the region very closely.

The Australian Government is providing consular assistance to Australians in Lebanon, Israel and Palestine. Our ability to provide assistance in the West Bank and Gaza is limited. 

Consular assistance and travel advice

Australians in need of emergency consular assistance or that require assistance with departure should contact the Australian Government's 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas) or 1300 555 135 (from within Australia).

Check the Smartraveller website and social media channels for the latest advice and travel updates.

• Travel advice for Lebanon
• Travel advice for Israel
• Travel advice for Palestine
• Smartraveller - Facebook
• Smartraveller - X

Humanitarian assistance

In Gaza, Australia’s funding is being directed to established humanitarian partners, including United Nations (UN) agencies and the Red Cross and Red Crescent movements to provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance with a focus on the needs of women and children. We will continue to act in partnership with the international community to help meet urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza.

Since 7 October 2023, Australia has committed humanitarian assistance to support civilians impacted by conflicts in the region.

Palestine

• $42 million to provide essential support and services with a focus on women and children, delivered through UN agencies such as UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
• $24 million through the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to provide food, water and medical care in Gaza and the region.
• $16 million for life-saving food assistance through the UN World Food Programme (WFP).
• $7 million to support healthcare services, including the provision of medical supplies to enable the operation of field hospitals, delivered through the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO).
• $6 million to provide essential assistance for refugees, delivered through UN agencies including the UN Relief Works Agency (UNRWA).
• $3 million to support humanitarian access, including via critical humanitarian corridors, coordinated by the UN Office of Project Services (UNOPS).
• $2 million for relief support delivered in partnership with the UK.

Lebanon

• $14 million for essential humanitarian assistance in response to conflict and displacement, though UN agencies such as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UNICEF and the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund.
• $11 million for essential food assistance through WFP.
• $5.5 million for livelihoods support for displaced populations, with a focus on women and people with disabilities, through UN Women and local NGOs.

Syria, Jordan and Yemen

• $23 million to provide essential support and services with a focus on women and children in Syria, to be delivered through UNICEF and UNFPA.
• $12 million to provide basic assistance and services, including education, for refugees in Jordan in partnership with the Jordanian Government and UN agencies, including UNHCR and WFP.
• $10 million to provide lifesaving food assistance through WFP in Yemen.

Advice for people wanting to donate

The Australian Government is actively monitoring the humanitarian situation in the Middle East and consulting with humanitarian agencies and the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID).

The Australian Government provides funding in the region through established humanitarian partners, including UN agencies, which have strong procedures in place to manage risks and comply with Australian counter-terrorism financing and sanctions laws.

Donated goods

Donated goods may not meet the needs of the affected population and can be inappropriate for the climate and culture. Managing these donations can also cause challenges for relief authorities in Australia and in-country. For more information on how to donate responsibly, please read: Donate Responsibly [PDF 689 KB].

Additional information on the risks of donating

Australia has listed several entities in the region as either terrorist organisations or state sponsors of terrorism, including Hamas, Hizballah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Australia also has sanctions frameworks in place in relation to several countries in the Middle East, including Iran, Lebanon, Syria and counter terrorism sanctions. Sanctions measures include targeted financial sanctions against persons and entities in Iran as well as trade measures. Those considering making donations should carefully consider their obligations under Australian sanctions laws.

If you think you have breached or are at risk of breaching Australian sanctions laws, you should contact the Australian Sanctions Office (ASO) via Pax or by email: sanctions@dfat.gov.au. The ASO will work with you to identify the causes of non-compliance and help prevent any future recurrences. For further information, please visit the Australian Sanctions Office page.

It is a criminal offence to fund terrorist organisations or state sponsors of terrorism, either directly or indirectly. It is also a criminal offence for a person to provide or collect funds where that person knows or is reckless to the fact that the funds will be used to facilitate or engage in either a terrorist act or state terrorist act.

Australians who remit money to a family member or friend may be committing an offence under the Criminal Code or sanctions law if:

• the money is provided with the intention it be made available to a terrorist organisation, state sponsor of terrorism or designated person or entity or
• they are aware there is substantial risk the money will be provided to a terrorist organisation, state sponsor of terrorism or designated person or entity.

There is a risk that donated funds may be misused for the purpose of terrorism financing.

To mitigate against this risk, it is important that due diligence is conducted and proper processes are in place to ensure funds are protected from misuse, are being used towards their charitable purpose and the persons or entities they deal with are not designated under Australian sanctions law or the Criminal Code. Liability under these respective schemes is dependent on particular factual circumstances including the knowledge and intention of the person.

The Australian Government Listed Terrorist Organisations website, state sponsors of terrorism websiteand a Consolidated List of all designated persons and entities are available as tools to assist the public in undertaking their due diligence checks. We also recommend reviewing the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) website to check if a charity is registered with ACNC as well as access useful information on donations more broadly.

Media releases, speeches and statements

Senator the Hon Penny Wong | Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs