The freezing wind, rain and snow storms cover the thin and fragile shelters that refugees call home.
Winter emergency: Some key figures
There are over 12 million refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Türkiye, and Egypt. Millions of people are in need of critical assistance to help them prepare for and cope with this winter. For many, this will be their 14th consecutive winter in displacement.
In Ukraine, more than 5.6 million people have had to flee their homes, and 3.8 million are internally displaced.
High Commissioner, Filippo Grandi warned: “Winters in Ukraine are very harsh and severe, extremely cold. So, we must do everything possible to prevent the cold of winter from becoming the next challenge for people that already have to face so much in their lives.”
In Afghanistan, conflict has subsided, but violence, fear and deprivation continue to drive Afghans to leave their homes in search of safety. Over a million conflict-related displacements have been recorded since the beginning of 2021 – 80% of them are women and children. 3.2 million people are estimated to be displaced internally due to conflict, while about 2 million Afghan refugees have returned from Iran and Pakistan in 2025, many not by choice.
Temperatures can get as low as -20°C in some parts of the country, and UNHCR has warned that the winter months are going to be a matter of life and death for millions of people affected by the war in Ukraine. UNHCR is scaling up shelter repairs, ensuring proper insulation is installed in homes to battle freezing temperatures. UNHCR is also on the ground distributing heating appliances and providing vital cash assistance for rent and other utilities.
Monthly temperatures can reach as low as -15°C in Afghanistan. With 90% of people in Afghanistan living in poverty (on less than CHF 2 per day), families are extremely vulnerable to sudden shocks of cold winter weather and people can die within a day without adequate protection from the elements. Most internally displaced families have fled without adequate clothing and reside in makeshift shelters that are extremely vulnerable to rain, snow and freezing temperatures.
UNHCR is providing refugees and IDPs with vital winter essentials such as warm clothes, shelters, thermal blankets, fuel and stoves to cook hot meals, and emergency winter payments. UNHCR’s winter assistance is focused on helping families survive in harsh conditions, often in precarious and temporary shelters. Critical needs for core assistance items during winter include blankets, solar lanterns, tent insulation kits and cash for heating, clothing and rent.
UNHCR leads the refugee response worldwide and has the reach and logistical capabilities to ensure that your donations will have an impact on the lives of the most vulnerable families.