Middle East
In early 2011, revolutionary protests reverberated across Arab countries in the Middle East, where huge crowds of ordinary citizens took to the streets demanding economic opportunities, social justice and political change. These mass protests led to a vastly different regional landscape with increasing humanitarian needs and expanded development opportunities. Catholic Relief Services, which has been working in the Middle East for more than 50 years, will continue to focus on programs that alleviate suffering and promote integral human development, while responding to collective calls for a heightened focus on human rights and democratic participation illuminated by the protests. The result of the historic political changes in the region will present new opportunities and challenges to bring about positive change in this part of the world, and CRS will be there for the long-term.
