Conflict across the Middle East and North Africa is fueling a sharp rise in measles outbreaks, with aid groups warning that more cases are likely as immunization programs falter. Save the Children reports that measles cases in 18 conflict-affected countries rose by 25 percent from 2024 to 2025, reaching more than 74,000 recorded infections. These countries are home to just 15 percent of the world’s children but account for 30 percent of global measles cases, highlighting the disproportionate toll of war on child health.

Children in these areas are more likely to be 'zero-dose' children, meaning they have received no measles vaccinations. Measles is highly contagious and especially dangerous for children who are malnourished or have weakened immune systems, conditions that are common in war-torn regions. Damaged health systems, displacement, food insecurity, and attacks on health facilities have made routine immunization increasingly difficult, while underreporting suggests the true scale of infections is far higher.

Aid cuts and political decisions have further disrupted vaccination efforts, forcing some health programs to close and limiting access to care. Humanitarian groups are attempting to reach under-immunized children and address vaccine misinformation, but insecurity and funding gaps pose major obstacles. Without sustained support and improved access to vaccines, organizations warn that preventable measles deaths among children in conflict zones are likely to increase.