Displacement
Winter aid needed as displacement persists in Lebanon, Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine
Over 300,000 remain displaced in Lebanon, 9 million across four nations await winter assistance, and millions are returning to homes amid a global housing shortage.
American Impact Alliance News Desk2 minute read
Prolonged displacement in southern Lebanon
Since early March, more than 300,000 people have been forced from their homes in Lebanon, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says the crisis is far from over. Although close to 970,000 residents have moved back to villages in the south, many encounter damaged houses, disrupted services and limited livelihood options. In Nabatieh Governorate, insecurity and restrictions on access to agricultural land have curtailed the olive harvest, with some farmers allowed only two days of work before Israeli forces ordered a stop. OCHA’s Lebanon Humanitarian Fund has set aside $91 million to support displaced families, returnees, refugees and other affected communities.
Winter survival appeal across four nations
UNHCR is seeking $50 million in contributions to help nine million people survive the coming winter in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Syria and Lebanon. The requested funding would enable the provision of heaters, blankets, warm clothing, cash for fuel and basic repairs such as tarpaulins and tape. In Ukraine, families whose homes were damaged by a drone strike last winter are among those targeted for assistance. In Afghanistan and Syria, large numbers of returnees and internally displaced persons face exposure to cold and inadequate shelter, raising the risk of debt, school disruption and street homelessness.
Return movements amid a global housing shortage
Afghanistan has seen an estimated 6.5 million people return in recent years, many involuntarily, while Syria reports that around 3.6 million refugees and internally displaced persons have gone back to their homes since December 2024. Yet 15.6 million people inside Syria still require humanitarian assistance. These movements occur against a backdrop of a global housing crisis that affects up to 3.4 billion people, including more than 1 billion living in informal settlements or slums. UN‑Habitat highlights urban regeneration as a way to create new housing, upgrade infrastructure and improve public spaces, offering a potential pathway for rebuilding communities displaced by conflict.