“Toughest winter yet”: Communities facing humanitarian crises are at greater risk as cold weather arrives

In communities where conflict and poverty have left many people without a home, warm clothes or the ability to afford heating, winter becomes a season of harsh challenges. 

We spoke with our teams in Ukraine, Gaza and Syria to learn how the cold weather is affecting families this year.

Temperatures in Ukraine can drop to as low as -20 degrees Celsius, making a warm home essential to survival. Over half of households in the Kherson region, one of the most severely affected by the conflict, identified heating and fuel as their most urgent unmet need.

In order to get by, one in three households are resorting to unsafe heating methods, reduced food consumption, or accumulating debt.

Working with our local partner, Concern is escalating our support for communities in Ukraine. This includes providing grants to community-based organisations to meet local needs such as shelter repair, emergency lighting and running community heating systems.

“It is almost four years since the current phase of the conflict began and that has had a cumulative impact – both physically and emotionally – on people,” said Ros O’Sullivan, Concern’s Head of Emergency Operations.  “With over 60% of the energy infrastructure now severely damaged or destroyed, the people of Ukraine are facing into their toughest winter yet.” 

Concern is also providing cash assistance to vulnerable families, enabling them to cover urgent seasonal needs according to their own priorities – such as heating materials (firewood, coal, briquettes), electricity or utility payments, warm clothing and footwear, or other essential household items needed to endure the cold months.

Families in Gaza are facing persistent rainfall, flooding their makeshift shelters and damaging latrine infrastructure. Without proper shelters or sanitation, the risk of illness and loss of life is high. As temperatures drop, there is no access to gas or electricity and extremely limited wood supplies.

Concern is working in partnership with CESVI to supply clean water and build latrines for displaced communities in Khan Younis, Deir al Balah and Gaza City. 

"Winter has arrived in Gaza, and for thousands of families living in makeshift camps where we operate the situation is becoming unbearable,” said Luca Sangalli, CESVI’s Head of Mission in Gaza.

“Heavy rains are flooding tents, cold winds cut through the thin shelters, and children are facing the nights without warm clothing or blankets. For people who have already been displaced many times, this is now the third winter spent without proper shelter, and conditions are deteriorating rapidly.” 

“In this context, CESVI’s work – with the support of Concern Worldwide and the DEC – is crucial to provide clean water and safe sanitation as essential first lines of defence against illness. Yet the needs remain overwhelming, and we need to continue to deliver critical aid required for communities to cope with the cold, the rain and the increased health risks associated with winter.”

In Syria, nearly 14 years of conflict displaced thousands of families and has left an estimated 16.5 million people in need of humanitarian support. As the winter approaches, Syrians can expect to see freezing temperatures, harsh rains and even snow. 

Unfortunately, millions of families are living in housing conditions that cannot keep them warm – including tents, damaged buildings, or buildings without heating.

Two years ago, Azzam* shared his experience of living in a damaged home during the winter months: 

“In winter, it was very, very cold because we had only blankets to put on the windows or the open holes in the walls, we didn’t have any doors so it was all open holes for rooms or for WC or for kitchen or for bathroom. Then in summer we would remove the blanket and just have open holes in the wall. 

“In winter the blankets would not provide you with any protection from the weather outside, it was a very bad situation and the temperature would be under zero. It was very cold, but I don't have the money to fix it by myself and the owner would not fix it.”

Concern rehabilitated his home, so Azzam and his three children could finally have doors and walls.

This year, Concern is supporting families living in Syria by providing cash transfers and non-food item vouchers to over six thousand households, so families can prioritise their winter needs. We have also provided over 3,000 people living in displacement camps with cash to use for fuel to keep themselves warm.