Winter crisis: 9 million people in four crisis-hit countries need aid, says UN
New York/Geneva — The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, has warned that at least 9 million people in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Syria and Lebanon will need additional humanitarian assistance to survive the coming winter. Amid funding shortfalls and rising energy and food prices, the agency has launched a global campaign to raise $50 million for affected…
New York/Geneva — The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, has warned that at least 9 million people in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Syria and Lebanon will need additional humanitarian assistance to survive the coming winter. Amid funding shortfalls and rising energy and food prices, the agency has launched a global campaign to raise $50 million for affected families.
UNHCR Director of External Relations Dominique Hyde said donations will help provide heaters, thermal blankets, warm clothing, fuel support and materials to repair damaged homes and windows. A $35 donation can provide a traditional heating device for an Afghan family, while $135 can supply a winter kit for a family in Ukraine, including a heater and window-repair materials.
The agency said Afghanistan has received an estimated 6.5 million returnees since September 2023, many of whom have limited resources to rebuild their lives. In Syria, around 1.7 million refugees and nearly 1.9 million internally displaced people have returned since December 2024, while 2.4 million people in priority areas are expected to need winter assistance.
In Ukraine, escalating drone and missile strikes have damaged civilian infrastructure and caused daily power outages, worsening conditions as temperatures fall. In Lebanon, nearly 300,000 people are expected to require winter assistance, but funding constraints mean UNHCR can reach only about half of them.
UNHCR said its ability to deliver aid is being squeezed precisely when needs are greatest, and urged individuals and private-sector donors to contribute urgently to the winter appeal.
