UN Refugee Agency Says 9 Million Need Extra Winter Help

The United Nations' refugee agency, UNHCR, has warned that nine million people across Ukraine, Syria, Lebanon, and Afghanistan will require additional support to survive the upcoming winter. In a fundraising appeal, the agency aims to raise at least US$50 million for winter assistance, which is $3 million more than they raised last year.

As winter approaches in the northern hemisphere, resources are limited and costs are rising. Dominique Hyde, the agency's external relations director, emphasized the urgent need to protect these individuals from the harsh cold. Millions of people in these war-affected nations are at risk of facing the elements without adequate protection.

The vast needs across the four countries are due to surging energy and food prices, fuel shortages for heating and cooking, and escalating Russian strikes on civilians and humanitarian workers in Ukraine. In Afghanistan, nearly four million Afghans returned from Pakistan and Iran between January 2025 and July 2026, many with limited resources to rebuild their lives.

In Syria, millions of refugees returned following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad, but without sufficient funding for basic necessities like shelter, clothing, and heating oil, the future of these returnees could become increasingly precarious.

In Lebanon, approximately 300,000 people are expected to need winter assistance, but the UNHCR can only reach half of that number due to funding constraints. Despite the elevated numbers of displaced people worldwide, with 117.8 million people forced to flee their homes at the end of 2025, the UNHCR has had to reduce its workforce due to budget cuts. The agency sought US$8.5 billion for its programs in 2026 but only had US$3 billion in available funds as of October 9.