Key Country office Current campaign Past campaign
Iraq (2005)
Crisis Action’s first campaign was launched in 2005 to convince the British government to launch a comprehensive, independent inquiry into Iraqi civilian casualties since the 2003 invasion.
Iran (2005-2007)
In 2007, fears of a US or Israeli-led military attack against Iran intensified. Crisis Action launched a collective campaign to close off the political space needed for the UK government to support military strikes.
Lebanon (2006-2007)
July 2006 saw the explosion of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon. Crisis Action coordinated a group of aid agencies, faith groups, trade unions and human rights organisations to pressure Tony Blair to publicly back an immediate ceasefire.
Somalia (2007)
Following a serious escalation in violence in Somalia in 2007, Crisis Action responded to partners’ concerns by coordinating intensive high-level advocacy for a limited period of time.
Zimbabwe (2007)
Throughout 2007, the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe became increasingly grave following poor rainfall and drought. Meanwhile the human rights situation deteriorated as public protest against President Mugabe and the ruling party ZANU-PF increased.
Chad (2007-2008)
The terrible conflict in Darfur led hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee across the border into Chad. In 2007, Crisis Action sought to help partners address the plight of women in refugee camps and highlight the violence and sexual abuse they were suffering
Georgia (2008)
In August 2008, Russia launched a large-scale military operation across the Georgian border, occupying South Ossetia and resulting in a conflict that led to the death of hundreds of civilians and grave human rights abuses by both sides.
Myanmar (2007-2009)
Following the Burmese regime’s brutal suppression of peaceful mass protests in September 2007, Crisis Action supported Burmese campaign groups to call on the international community to put greater pressure on the Burmese regime to end the military crackdown.
Sri Lanka (2009)
Between February and May 2009, the final months of the Sri Lankan government’s military campaign against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Crisis Action worked with partners to address the humanitarian tragedy in the Vanni area of Sri Lanka.
Pakistan (2009-2010)
In June 2009, the Pakistani government launched a military offensive against the Taliban in the Swat Valley. Around two million civilians were displaced as the UN warned that the human exodus was the world’s worst displacement crisis since the Rwandan genocide of 1994.
Kyrgyzstan (2010)
Crisis Action worked with partners to produce a humanitarian briefing paper that outlined the dynamics of the conflict and its impact on the civilian population to help officials assess and improve their response. We also worked with Archbishop Desmond Tutu to place an op-ed article providing recommendations on how the international community could help stem the violence.
Libya (2010-2011)
The Libya Campaign initiated by Crisis Action responded to the violent crackdown by the Libyan regime on peaceful protests across several cities in February 2011. As Colonel Muammar Gaddafi threatened to suppress demonstrations by any means necessary, including lethal force, the international community expressed grave concern over the escalating violence and the potential massacre of civilians in Benghazi, the opposition stronghold.
Ivory Coast (2010-2011)
In the wake of the contested Presidential election in Ivory Coast in November 2010, the stand-off between President Alassane Ouattara and former President Laurent Gbagbo and their respective forces intensified, eventually exploding into fierce clashes, summary executions and deliberate attacks against civilians. More than one million people were displaced from their homes and around 135,000 were forced to flee, seeking refuge in Liberia.
Afghanistan (2009-2012)
The latest round of conflict in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, with the launching of the US-led “Operation Enduring Freedom.” Over ten years later public confidence in a positive outcome from the conflict had sunk to a new low. Crisis Action brought together humanitarian, human rights and peace-building organisations to call for international backing for a new strategic approach.
Democratic Republic of Congo (2012)
DRC was a campaign priority for Crisis Action between 2008 and 2012. Having substantially influenced a new UN peacekeeping mandate for DRC in mid-2012, Crisis Action concluded long-term work on DRC. However, renewed violence in Goma at the end of 2012 spurred Crisis Action to launch a high-level emergency response.
Mali (2012)
After months of bitter fighting between the government of Mali and rival rebel groups, armed Islamic insurgents gained control of the north of the country. With the United Nations Security Council considering military intervention, Crisis Action worked with partners to influence the force’s mandate to ensure that any deployment made a positive contribution to the protection of civilians on the ground.
Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory (2007-2013)
Since 2007, Crisis Action has worked with partners to highlight the humanitarian impact of the Israeli blockade on Gaza. In 2013, Crisis Action supported partners to push for EU action to end trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which threaten the viability of a peaceful two-state solution to the conflict.
Sudan and South Sudan (2005-2013)
Crisis Action began work on Sudan in 2005, responding to the mass atrocities and gross human rights abuses committed against hundreds and thousands of civilians in Darfur. Crisis Action played a key role in coordinating part of the global Darfur campaign that brought the conflict in Darfur to the very top of the global political agenda and prompted concerted action by the UN Security Council, including authorization of a major peacekeeping force to protect civilians.
Lord’s Resistance Army (2010-2013)
Since 2008, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has killed at least 2,300 people, abducted more than 3,000 and displaced more than 440,000 civilians from South Sudan, Congo and the Central African Republic. Since late 2010, Crisis Action has been instrumental in catalysing an international response to the LRA crisis.
Central African Republic (2013)
In March 2013, after months of fighting, the Seleka rebel coalition overthrew the government and Seleka leader Michel Djotodia proclaimed himself President, leading the Central African Republic (CAR) into a massive humanitarian and security crisis.
Nigeria (2015)
With widespread warnings of violence around the delayed Presidential elections in Nigeria on 28 March 2015 and increasing attacks on civilians from Boko Haram, Crisis Action launched an Emergency Response to support partners’ advocacy focused on reducing the risk of election-related violence and protecting civilians in Boko Haram-affected areas.
Burundi (2015)
Burundi was thrown into a state of turmoil in April 2015 when the country’s President of 10 years, Pierre Nkurunziza, decided to stand for a third term in office. Thousands of people took to the streets to protest, only to be met with a heavy-handed response from government security forces and its armed youth militia. Crisis Action launched an emergency response to prevent the country from spiraling back into armed conflict.
Yemen (2016)
In March 2015, Saudi Arabia led a coalition of countries in a campaign of airstrikes and a naval blockade of Yemen. Within months, thousands of people were killed, the country was on the brink of famine, and four in every five Yemenis needed humanitarian assistance. In response to the deteriorating situation for Yemeni civilians, Crisis Action began an emergency response in August 2015. The objective was a ceasefire.
South Sudan (2013-2020)
Since the outbreak of civil war in December 2013, Crisis Action has led a coordinated response that focuses on securing peace in the country, protecting civilians and ending the culture of impunity that has resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of lives and the displacement of 2.3 million people from their homes.
Syria (2011-2021)
Between 2011 and 2021, Crisis Action led a global coordinated response to the war in Syria. The war—which has led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands and forced over 13 million people to flee their homes in terror—has spurred Crisis Action to support collaborative work to push for stronger action by parties to the conflict, the UN, the Arab League and the EU to further civilian protection.
Ukraine (2022-2023)
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 sent shockwaves around the world, prompting an urgent and coordinated response from Crisis Action and our global network of partners. Recognizing the significance of this crisis and its implications for international norms and global stability, Crisis Action immediately mobilized efforts to address the escalating conflict and its far-reaching consequences.
Ethiopia (2023)
Following the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, Crisis Action swiftly mobilized efforts to push for comprehensive peace in Ethiopia.
Sahel (2020 – present)
In March 2020, Crisis Action launched a campaign in the Sahel, targeted at encouraging all governments active in the region away from a primarily militaristic response to the security crisis and towards a more holistic, people-centred political response that addresses the root causes of violence and puts the protection of civilians at its heart.
Sudan (2023-present)
Amidst a brutal conflict that erupted in Sudan in April 2023, Crisis Action took swift action to mobilize international attention and halt atrocities. Working closely with Sudanese activists, Crisis Action convened a coalition of Sudanese and Pan African partners to influence the African Union (AU), the United Nations Security Council, the UK government, and others, while shifting the media narrative away from mere military confrontation between two rivals.
IOPT (2023-present)
In response to the devastating war on Gaza, Crisis Action swiftly mobilized a global coalition to protect civilians and advocate for peace. Aligning priorities among partners, we coordinate calls for a ceasefire, humanitarian access, and adherence to International Humanitarian Law.
Johannesburg
The Johannesburg office opened in 2016 as part of Crisis Action’s strategy to expand its footprint into countries in the global south that displayed a commitment to International Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.
Nairobi
The Nairobi office has been operational since 2010. A key focus of its work is to build stronger networks with African NGOs and facilitate collective advocacy towards the African Union (AU).
Paris
The Paris office was established in 2007 and works closely with French NGOs and international partners, engaging with the French government and French media.
Washington
The Washington Office was established in 2012 and is focused on working with US partners to affect policy changes from the U.S. Administration and Congress.
New York
Operating since 2009, Crisis Action’s New York office catalyses partner advocacy at the United Nations (UN) focusing on the UN Security Council, UN secretariat, UN missions, and the UN press corps.
London
Open since 2005, London was Crisis Action’s first office. It has a strong base of partners and network members with which it works closely, across all our campaigns, enabling them to focus on the UK government and international media.
Beirut
The MENA office is based in Beirut and is focused on deploying strategic coalitions of regional and international NGOs in the Arab world and beyond to amplify the voices of populations affected by conflict in the region and influence a vast array of advocacy targets.
Egypt (2011)
The ‘Stop the Crackdown’ campaign coordinated by Crisis Action in Egypt amid the 2011 uprising against President Hosni Mubarak garnered significant international attention and support. Following the Tunisian uprising, Egyptians converged in Tahrir Square, demanding Mubarak’s resignation, leading to a violent crackdown
Sudan (2011)
The Sudan365 campaign, launched in 2010, aimed at ensuring strengthened and coordinated engagement by international actors to prevent a return to conflict in Sudan. By bringing together over 100 organizations across 20 countries in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the US, the campaign targeted states and institutions acting as guarantors of the 2005 CPA. Notably, high-level officials confirmed that Sudan365 contributed to an intensification of efforts to prevent violence ahead of the referendum.
Democratic Republic of Congo (2008 – 2012)
Crisis Action worked on the Democratic Republic of Congo from 2008 to 2012. Throughout those years Crisis Action built strong coalitions of Congolese and international organisations to push the Security Council to give its peacekeeping forces (MONUC/MONUSCO) strong mandates to protect civilians.
Democratic Republic of the Congo (2016 – 2017)
In August 2016, Crisis Action mobilised an emergency response in anticipation of the political crisis escalating into violence and further human rights abuses against civilians.
Yemen (2017)
Crisis Action worked with our partner NGOs to increase the political costs for the Saudi coalition and its backers (including the US and UK) by galvanising an international outcry against the catastrophic humanitarian effects of such an attack on the port.
Myanmar (2018)
In late August 2017, Myanmar military forces and local Buddhist extremists attacked the ethnic minority Rohingya people in the country’s north-west Rakhine state. The atrocities – unprecedented in their scale – included looting and burning down Rohingya villages, mass killing of Rohingya civilians, gang rapes, and other acts of sexual violence. Although already focused on four conflicts, when almost 700,000 Rohingya were forced to flee the country, Crisis Action took up an emergency response to support partners to try to halt further ethnic cleansing and human suffering.
Central African Republic (2018)
Crisis Action convened a diverse coalition which focused first on convincing the UN Secretary-General to ask the Security Council to boost the CAR force, and then on persuading the Council to respond positively to the Secretary-General’s recommendations.
Democratic Republic of Congo (2018)
In March 2018, violence in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), increased with government-backed attacks carried out against demonstrators calling for elections to be held by the end of the year. Partners told us that the unrest could worsen an already-dire humanitarian situation, so Crisis Action launched an emergency response designed to prevent further violence and possible mass atrocities.
Cameroon (2019)
In the lead-up to the Cameroonian elections in October 2018, Crisis Action launched an emergency response to the escalating conflict, which had seen horrific levels of violence and widespread displacement of civilians. The aim of the campaign was to get incumbent President Paul Biya and Anglophone separatist leaders to engage in a mediated dialogue.
Venezuela (2019)
In March 2019, following a partner consultation, Crisis Action launched an emergency response on the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, where over seven million people are in need of urgent assistance, and from which four million people have already fled. This was Crisis Action’s first initiative on Latin America and our goal was to get aid to those in need. We supported partners to urge the UN to scale up its response, and to ask key governments to use their influence with Venezuela to get them to accept international humanitarian assistance.
Sudan (2019)
In the wake of months of anti-government protests, which culminated in the overthrow of long-time President Omar al-Bashir, Crisis Action launched an emergency response on Sudan in April 2019 to urge a peaceful transition to civilian rule. We focused efforts on encouraging the AU to listen to Sudanese civil society and insist that the military hand power to civilians.
Nagorno-Karabakh (2020)
In late September 2020, Crisis Action launched an emergency response to the outbreak of war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. We engaged Russian, German and French officials, persuading them to play an active role in brokering peace.
Yemen (2018-2020)
Yemen, once a forgotten conflict, captured global attention during 2019 thanks to the steadfast and strategic campaigning led by our Yemeni and international partners. Through relentless advocacy efforts, Crisis Action propelled the Yemeni crisis into the headlines, placing it at the forefront of political debates and international deliberations.
Tanzania (2020)
Responding to urgent calls from partners in the region, Crisis Action launched an emergency response in the wake of a wave of state-sponsored violence, intimidation and voter suppression in the lead-up to the Tanzanian elections of October 2020.
Mozambique (2021)
In the midst of escalating violence in Mozambique, Crisis Action launched an emergency response in February 2021. The unrest was centred in resource-rich Cabo Delgado province, where insurgents overtook four districts. In response, Crisis Action coordinated a letter from 31 local and international NGOs to SADC, urging more decisive action in tackling the insurgency and maintaining humanitarian access for the 2.3 million residents of Cabo Delgado.
Myanmar (2021)
Crisis Action launched an emergency response to the February 2021 military coup and the subsequent violent suppression of peaceful protests. We convened a coalition of Burmese and international partners to issue a joint statement, signed by over 200 organisations from five continents, calling for action to end the violence, and specifically a UN-enforced global arms embargo against Myanmar’s military junta.
IOPT (2021)
In the spring of 2021, Crisis Action launched an emergency response to encourage the Joe Biden administration in the US to fulfil its commitment to uphold human rights and use its leverage to help prevent a future recurrence of violence.
Haiti (2022)
Amidst calls from the US for elections by year-end, Crisis Action heeded requests from Haitian civil society leaders to launch a campaign highlighting the risks of hastily conducted elections. Targeting key UN officials and UN Security Council (UNSC) members, Crisis Action’s partners advocated for a slower electoral timetable and a civil society-led inclusive political transition.
Russia (2022)
Since 2019, Crisis Action had been actively working to bridge this information gap by collaborating with Syrian and Russian civil society groups. By facilitating connections and enabling independent Russian media and civil society to report on the situation in Syria, Crisis Action made significant strides in shedding light on the realities of the conflict.
Afghanistan (2022)
In August 2021, the tumultuous US military withdrawal from Afghanistan plunged the country into renewed violence and instability as the Taliban regained control. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Crisis Action swiftly mobilized efforts to shift the debate and advocate for policies that could alleviate the suffering of the Afghan people.
Syria (2023)
In June 2023, Crisis Action supported a coalition of Syrian family organisations in achieving an historic win: convincing the UN General Assembly to vote in favour of establishing a new independent institution to clarify the fate and whereabouts of all missing persons in the Syrian Arab Republic and to support victims, survivors and families.
Democratic Republic of the Congo (2024)
This Emergency Response campaign was an immediate intervention to catalyse change and enable partners’ longer-term efforts towards peace and stability in the DRC, by working with the African Union and the South African Development Community to help get Rwanda’s and DRC’s presidents to engage meaningfully at the negotiating table.
Addis Ababa
Syria (2025-present)
Following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Syria faces a critical opportunity to transition from decades of tyranny and war to a future based on justice, accountability and democracy. Without a credible and inclusive process, the country could face another cycle of violence, with millions of Syrians facing uncertain futures. To help prevent this, Crisis Action launched an Emergency Response campaign in January 2025, working closely with Syrian partners invested in ensuring their country moves toward accountability for victims and economic recovery as foundations of a peaceful transition.
Lebanon (2025-present)
Following the escalation of Israeli bombardment on Lebanon in September 2024, Crisis Action rapidly convened partners and launched an emergency response. To reduce the loss of life and protect civilians in Lebanon, the campaign sought to advance three initial objectives: to increase the global call for military de-escalation and a return to political solutions; to mobilise strategic voices to avert a full-scale occupation of Southern Lebanon that would thwart any possibility of the implementation of UNSC resolution 1701; and to demand action to address an escalating humanitarian crisis.