Providing School Meals during conflict
For over 20 years, Mary’s Meals has operated extensively in areas of conflict and crisis in some of the world’s most dangerous places, reaching children who might otherwise be forgotten.
Today, we are serving some of the most vulnerable and hardest-to-reach children in Yemen, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Haiti and South Sudan, where conflict and instability are pushing families to the brink. In these contexts, hunger isn’t just a hardship; it is a daily emergency threatening both survival and any chance of an education.
For the children we reach, a daily school meal is not just important; it is lifeline support. For some, it is the only reliable food they will eat that day. Without it, many simply would not come to school or would not eat at all.
And if you donate today, your gift will be DOUBLED by a generous group of donors. That means your donation will have DOUBLE the impact.
A proven commitment
Starting with our Founder’s efforts to deliver aid to refugee camps in war-torn Bosnia-Herzegovina in the 1990s, we have decades of experience working in areas impacted by conflict and crises to reach the children who need us most.
Operating in areas affected by war, displacement and instability requires deep local knowledge and flexibility.
Through trusted local partners, we continue to deliver meals despite:
- Ongoing conflict and insecurity
- Economic crisis and food shortages
- Displacement and disrupted infrastructure
Why school meals matter in conflict settings
In fragile and post-conflict environments, a daily meal at school delivers immediate, life-changing outcomes:
- Reduces hunger and malnutrition, enabling children to concentrate and learn
- Increases school attendance, particularly for children at risk of dropping out
- Provides a vital safety net for families, keeping children in structured school environments rather than on the streets or in dangerous work
- Supports recovery and stability, helping communities rebuild through education
This simple intervention creates consistency and structure in places where children’s lives are often defined by uncertainty.
Your support saves lives
Right now, more than half a million children rely on Mary’s Meals every school day in Yemen, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Haiti and South Sudan.
But in fragile contexts, this work can only continue with sustained funding.
Your support ensures that:
- Children continue to receive daily meals, even in crisis
- Programmes remain stable despite instability
- We can respond quickly when new emergencies arise
And right now if you donate your gift will be DOUBLED by a generous group of supporters, meaning your donation will go twice as far.
Other ways to give to Mary's Meals
Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)
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Stewardship
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