Global Shelter Needs Skyrocket as Humanitarian Crises Escalate

The demand for safe housing among people affected by humanitarian crises has surged dramatically, more than doubling since 2019, according to a new report by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). By 2025, over 91 million individuals will require urgent assistance with finding homes, a stark increase from the 37.5 million recorded in 2019.

The report highlights the essential role of having a secure place to live, emphasizing its function as more than a mere physical structure. Amelia Rule, NRC’s global lead for shelter and settlement, underscored the profound impact of proper housing on safety, health, and dignity. “It can provide increased safety from violence and diseases. It also provides displaced people with dignity and a safe place to recover from the trauma of losing a home and to start restabilizing their lives,” Rule stated.

The need for emergency housing solutions has reached critical levels in regions like Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine, and Lebanon. In Sudan alone, over 14 million people have been displaced due to ongoing conflict, forcing them into overcrowded and unsuitable living conditions. Similarly, Gaza faces an acute crisis, with 1.4 million people urgently requiring support to secure adequate accommodations.

Efforts to address these needs include the provision of family-sized tents, kits for repairing damaged structures, and materials to seal off openings in buildings. However, the funding required to meet these demands has fallen alarmingly short. Despite the doubling of global housing needs since 2019, the sector has only received 27% of the $3.96 billion required for 2024.

“There is an urgent need for increased support to protect people from the elements before winter sets in. In addition, we need to invest in more sustainable, longer-term solutions,” Rule urged.

The NRC’s teams, active in 32 countries, are striving to bridge the gap, reaching 1.5 million people in need. Yet, with over 120 million people displaced globally due to persecution, conflict, and violence, the scale of the crisis demands immediate and robust international response. The findings in the NRC’s report, The State of Shelter in Conflict-Affected Countries – Winter 2024, serve as a dire reminder of the growing human toll of global conflicts and the urgent need for comprehensive humanitarian support.