Humanity United Statement on the Conflict in the Middle East

The war in Iran is in its fourth week and continues to cause significant suffering across the globe. On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel began a war of choice against Iran, triggering retaliation and engulfing the wider Middle East region. While the Trump administration and governments across the region say they have begun diplomatic negotiations, there is no resolution in sight. This conflict has caused thousands of civilian casualties and upended the lives of more than 30 million migrant workers who have made this region home. 

Migrant workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries continue to face human rights abuses, unpaid wages, restriction of movement, confiscation of identity documents, and exclusion from social service benefits in their countries of destination. As a result of these military strikes, many workers have lost their lives, and more have lost their jobs. Countless others are living in fear, cut off from information and locked out of evacuation plans, and without access to mental health support. Their suffering is real and ongoing. 

Humanity United stands in solidarity with migrant workers in the GCC and beyond, with their families, and with the citizens of the region. We condemn all violence against civilian populations and call on all parties to immediately cease hostilities. The United States, Israel, and Iran must begin to respect international humanitarian and human rights law, which protects all civilians in armed conflict regardless of citizenship or national origin. 

This crisis has laid bare what migrant workers and advocates have long known. Migrant labor is essential to the economy, yet workers remain highly vulnerable to human rights abuses and often lack adequate social protections. 

In the immediate term, migrant workers must have emergency protection. This includes emergency wage protection, to prevent employers from using the war as a pretext to withhold wages, deny leave, or unjustly dismiss workers without compensation. Migrant workers must also have access to social protection schemes, including health services, shelters, and legal services, with a particular emphasis on migrant domestic workers. In addition, governments in countries of origin must coordinate with the GCC to create pathways for emergency repatriation for workers who choose to return home.  

Long term, these governments must be held accountable, not just in times of crisis, but in building the inclusive, durable structures and laws that protect workers. This means the abolition of the Kafala (sponsorship) system in name and in practice, a structure that ties workers’ legal status to their employers, stripping them of freedom of movement and leaving them without recourse precisely when they need it most. It also means advancing bilateral labor agreements to further protect workers and ensure equitable labor practices, as well as building stronger embassy capacity as a point of contact for workers who are away from their homes. 

For years, Humanity United has been honored to walk alongside partners advocating for workers’ rights in the GCC. We will continue to do so during this conflict, and we remain committed to this work for the long term.