How winter threatens to deepen Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis ​

After more than three years of war in Ukraine and with no sign of an immediate end, the ongoing humanitarian crisis for displaced people in the country looks set to deepen with the arrival of winter. The sheer scale of the challenge faced by those uprooted from their homes could see the next few months become one of the most difficult periods; where the cold, alongside the conflict, becomes a significant threat.

UNHCR is determined to deliver vital support and resources to those who need it most across this challenging season, ensuring as many people as possible aren’t left behind to face the freezing temperatures alone.

The Latest Update From Ukraine

It is now estimated that over 8.8 million people have been forced from their homes since the conflict began, marking it as the largest internal displacement crisis in Europe today. The fighting has left displaced people in unheated buildings or temporary communal centres, and with temperatures set to plummet in the months ahead, the need for warm shelter will reach a critical level.

The war has damaged or destroyed critical infrastructure across the country which has left millions without access to running water, electricity or heating – leaving displaced people at high risk of vulnerability during winter. With such a lack of functional services, the need for warmth and shelter is growing as temperatures start to fall, leaving families with nowhere to turn. Millions of displaced people in Ukraine require help simply to survive the winter ahead, and the demand for shelter, water, food and sanitation is further complicated by the sub-zero temperatures.

For host communities and collective shelters, the strain is multiplied. The logistics of moving supplies and maintaining heating networks in areas affected by conflict and disruption further complicate the response.

Ongoing attacks continue to destroy homes, claim lives and separate families. With no end to the war in sight, UNHCR remains on the ground, providing lifesaving protection and support for as long as necessary.

What Is ‘Winterisation’?

For UNHCR, the process of “winterisation” is the critical and lifesaving act of helping to prepare vulnerable homes and shelters to withstand the brutal cold, particularly in a country like Ukraine where temperatures can reach -30° or lower in certain areas. This is an extensive operation that goes far beyond simply handing out warm clothes. Winterisation often involves:

• Shelter Repair – providing materials to seal broken windows, fix damaged roofs, insulating temporary homes, or installing heating appliances.
• Essential Supplies – distributing thermal blankets, warm coats, boots, and fuel for heating to refugees and displaced people. The scale of this particular operation can be enormous, with past efforts seeing over 2.5 million blankets distributed to refugees.
• Sickness Protection – working to ensure communal centres have adequate capacity and the resources needed to prevent the spread of illness, which can be accelerated by the cold temperatures.

Why Urgency Is Growing

The challenges brought about by winter can make an already dire humanitarian situation much worse, especially countries like Ukraine, Afghanistan and Syria that experience such cold temperatures.

Displaced families have already lost their homes and their communities, and basic infrastructure is struggling to support them in their hour of need. If these families cannot stay warm, they risk losing their health and could be forced to move on again – potentially into even more challenging and precarious locations.

The clock is also working against us. We have limited time to act before the severe winter weather – once temperatures drop and roads become impassable, vital aid delivery becomes significantly more difficult. 

This is where your donation becomes a hugely significant lifeline. Our past appeals have invited support ‘no matter how small’, and your gift this winter can help keep displaced Ukrainians safe and warm. Whether you can spare enough to help provide basic thermal blankets, or a larger amount that will help UNHCR upgrade heating and insulation, your contribution matters.

How to Donate to Ukraine

Donate to the UNHCR Winter Appeal today and stand with displaced families living through a harsh Ukrainian winter that no one should ever have to face alone. The devastating combination of relentless conflict and freezing temperatures require our immediate attention and compassion. Your donation will help deliver critical support to the Ukrainian people when they need it most.

As a donor, your gift will help us support winterisation and other essential services that help refugees and displaced people survive such challenging conditions. Your support will help ensure that:

• displaced families receive thermal blankets and other crucial winter essentials
• collective shelters or homes are upgraded with insulation and heaters
• families have access to supplies of safe fuel
• urgent repairs are done now, with support continuing throughout winter.

Your donation will help UNHCR provide critical winter support to women, children and men caught in one of the world’s most devastating emergencies and around the world.

Will you help us respond to Europe’s largest displacement crisis? Your donation will help deliver critical support to the Ukrainian people. Donate here.