UNHCR seeks $50 million to help 9 million people through winter
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has launched a $50 million fundraising appeal to provide emergency winter assistance to around nine million people in Ukraine, Syria, Lebanon and Afghanistan, warning that millions face increasingly difficult conditions as temperatures drop.
The Geneva-based agency said on Friday that the funding would help vulnerable families access heating, shelter, warm clothing and other essential supplies during the coming winter.
The appeal is $3 million higher than the amount raised for last year's winter assistance programme, as humanitarian needs continue to grow amid conflicts, displacement and rising living costs.
“Resources are scarce, and costs are spiralling just as winter looms in the northern hemisphere,” said Dominique Hyde, UNHCR's director of external relations.
“Millions in these fragile, war-affected countries risk facing the elements without enough protection from the cold. We need to shield them immediately,” she added.
Ukraine faces another harsh winter
Ukraine is entering the fifth winter since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, with temperatures expected to fall to minus 20 degrees Celsius.
UNHCR warned that intensified Russian strikes targeting civilians and humanitarian workers, combined with widespread power outages, are worsening conditions for people already affected by years of war.
The agency said vulnerable households would need additional support to secure heating, shelter and essential supplies as temperatures fall.
Returnees face difficult conditions in Afghanistan and Syria
In Afghanistan, nearly four million Afghans returned from Pakistan and Iran between January 2025 and July 2026, according to UNHCR.
Many returnees have limited financial resources and face significant difficulties rebuilding their lives and securing adequate housing and basic services.
In Syria, millions of refugees have returned following the overthrow of President Bashar Assad. However, the agency warned that insufficient funding could leave many returnees without adequate shelter, warm clothing and heating fuel.
UNHCR said additional winter assistance was essential to prevent the situation of vulnerable returning families from deteriorating further.
Funding shortages limit assistance in Lebanon
In Lebanon, approximately 300,000 people are expected to require winter assistance.
However, UNHCR said existing funding would allow it to reach only around half of those in need, highlighting the growing gap between humanitarian requirements and available resources.
Across all four countries, families are facing rising energy and food prices, as well as shortages of fuel needed for heating and cooking.
Global displacement remains at critical levels
The winter appeal comes as humanitarian agencies face growing financial constraints despite the enormous scale of global displacement.
According to UNHCR, 117.8 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced at the end of 2025, down slightly from the record 123.2 million recorded in 2024.
Despite these figures, the agency has been forced to reduce its workforce because of budget cuts.
UNHCR requested $8.5 billion to finance its humanitarian programmes in 2026 but had secured only $3 billion in available funding as of October 9.
The agency warned that limited resources were threatening its ability to respond to growing humanitarian needs, particularly as millions of displaced people prepare to face another winter without adequate protection.
Source:turkiyetoday
