Environment
The United Nations refugee agency said on Friday that nine million people in Ukraine, Syria, Lebanon and Afghanistan will need additional assistance to cope with the coming winter.
The United Nations refugee agency said on Friday that nine million people in Ukraine, Syria, Lebanon and Afghanistan will need additional assistance to cope with the coming winter. Launching a fundraising appeal, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said it hopes to raise at least $50 million to provide winter assistance.
The agency raised $3 million for winter assistance last year.
Dominique Isabelle Hyde, Director of UNHCR’s Division of External Relations, said, “Resources are scarce, and costs are rising as winter approaches in the Northern Hemisphere.” She added, “Millions of people in vulnerable countries affected by conflict lack adequate facilities to protect themselves from the cold. We must provide them with immediate protection.” The Geneva-based United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warned that humanitarian needs during the winter have increased significantly in four countries, including Ukraine. According to the agency, millions of people are struggling with rising food and energy prices, as well as shortages of fuel needed for heating and cooking.
UNHCR said that during the fifth winter since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, temperatures could fall to minus 20 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, increasing attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers, along with repeated power outages, are further worsening conditions for people affected by the war.
(Afghanistan)
Between January 2025 and July 2026, approximately four million Afghans returned to their country from Pakistan and Iran. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), many of these returnees have very limited resources to start a new life and rebuild their homes and livelihoods.
Following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria, millions of refugees have returned to their homeland. However, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has warned that without additional financial assistance to meet basic needs such as shelter, warm clothing and heating fuel this winter, the situation of returnees could become even more uncertain and difficult.
In Lebanon, approximately 300,000 people are estimated to need winter assistance. However, due to a shortage of financial resources, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will only be able to reach half of those affected. According to the agency, 117.8 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced by the end of 2025, representing a slight decline from the record 123.2 million recorded in 2024. Despite the continued high number of displaced people, budget cuts have forced UNHCR to reduce its workforce. For 2026, UNHCR appealed for $8.5 billion to fund its humanitarian programs. However, as of October 9, it had received only $3 billion in funding.
