Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Section runs programmes in the Middle East and North Africa. Its integrated approach combines humanitarian aid and development cooperation.

The section's humanitarian work focuses on emergency aid for victims of conflicts as well as risk prevention and reinforced capacities for emergency relief when natural disasters occur. In areas devastated by conflict, the section manages reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts and advocates for vulnerable people such as refugees and internally displaced persons.

In the area of development cooperation, the section supports the transition to democracy, the creation of jobs, and income generation. In addition, it maintains relations with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

In each context, the section bases its work on the approaches of humanitarian aid and international cooperation. Where possible and appropriate, the two approaches are combined.

Geographically, the section is divided into four regions where Switzerland is engaged through programmes or humanitarian policy work:

• Middle East (Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey)
• Near East (Israel and occupied Palestinian territory)
• North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia)
• Arabian Peninsula and Iran (Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen)