Globally, the number of crises-affected people in need of a home has more than doubled since 2019, according to a new overview by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
Shelter needs doubled in five years
By 2025, more than 91 million people who are affected by humanitarian crises will be in urgent need of shelter to protect themselves from the elements, to have privacy and a place to feel safe. This shows more than a doubling in needs since 2019 when 37.5 million people required shelter support.
“Shelter is more than four walls and a roof. Shelter 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 restabilising their lives,” said Amelia Rule, NRC’s global lead for shelter and settlement.
Emergency shelter solutions in dire situations such as in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine and Lebanon include family sized tents, kits of essential materials for sealing-off openings in damaged buildings, tarpaulins and tools for repairing shelters.
"There is an urgent need for increased support to provide emergency shelter for people to be protected from the elements before winter sets in. In addition, we need to invest in the more sustainable longer-term solutions," said Rule.
In Sudan more than 14 million people have been forced to flee due to the conflict. Amid the ongoing hostilities and devastating destruction of infrastructure, millions have lost their homes and are now living in overcrowded dwellings and structures not intended for prolonged human habitation. In Gaza there are 1.4 million people in need of shelter support.
NRC’s shelter and settlement teams are working hard to reach people in need of shelter in many of today’s largest emergencies. However, while the need for shelter has doubled since 2019, the funding has not kept pace with the needs – and the sector is only 27 percent funded so far into 2024.
Notes to editors:
- The full overview of global shelter needs entitled 'The State of Shelter in conflict affected countries– Winter 2024' can be found here.
- Photos and b-roll are available for free use here.
- More than 120 million people are displaced due to persecution, conflict and violence (UNHCR).
- NRC’s shelter and settlement teams are working in 32 countries supporting 1.5 million people.
- As of 2024, 91 million people affected by humanitarian crises are in urgent need of shelter support (GSC). This shows more than a doubling in needs since 2019 when 37.5 million people required shelter support (data from GSC).
- While the need for shelter has doubled since 2019, the funding for shelter has not kept pace with the needs. So far into 2024 only 1.06 billion US dollars out of the 3.96 billion US dollars needed for shelter and non-food items have been received (27 percent) (OCHA).
- In Sudan more than 14 million people have been forced to flee due to the conflict (OCHA; UNHCR).
- In Gaza there are 1.4 million people in need of shelter support (Shelter Cluster Snapshot).
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- NRC global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329
- Communication specialist adviser Ingrid Prestetun: ingrid.prestetun@nrc.no, +47 907 02 252
By 2025, more than 91 million people who are affected by humanitarian crises will be in urgent need of shelter to protect themselves from the elements, to have privacy and a place to feel safe. This shows more than a doubling in needs since 2019 when 37.5 million people required shelter support.
“Shelter is more than four walls and a roof. Shelter 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 restabilising their lives,” said Amelia Rule, NRC’s global lead for shelter and settlement.
Emergency shelter solutions in dire situations such as in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine and Lebanon include family sized tents, kits of essential materials for sealing-off openings in damaged buildings, tarpaulins and tools for repairing shelters.
"There is an urgent need for increased support to provide emergency shelter for people to be protected from the elements before winter sets in. In addition, we need to invest in the more sustainable longer-term solutions," said Rule.
In Sudan more than 14 million people have been forced to flee due to the conflict. Amid the ongoing hostilities and devastating destruction of infrastructure, millions have lost their homes and are now living in overcrowded dwellings and structures not intended for prolonged human habitation. In Gaza there are 1.4 million people in need of shelter support.
NRC’s shelter and settlement teams are working hard to reach people in need of shelter in many of today’s largest emergencies. However, while the need for shelter has doubled since 2019, the funding has not kept pace with the needs – and the sector is only 27 percent funded so far into 2024.
Notes to editors:
- The full overview of global shelter needs entitled 'The State of Shelter in conflict affected countries– Winter 2024' can be found here.
- Photos and b-roll are available for free use here.
- More than 120 million people are displaced due to persecution, conflict and violence (UNHCR).
- NRC’s shelter and settlement teams are working in 32 countries supporting 1.5 million people.
- As of 2024, 91 million people affected by humanitarian crises are in urgent need of shelter support (GSC). This shows more than a doubling in needs since 2019 when 37.5 million people required shelter support (data from GSC).
- While the need for shelter has doubled since 2019, the funding for shelter has not kept pace with the needs. So far into 2024 only 1.06 billion US dollars out of the 3.96 billion US dollars needed for shelter and non-food items have been received (27 percent) (OCHA).
- In Sudan more than 14 million people have been forced to flee due to the conflict (OCHA; UNHCR).
- In Gaza there are 1.4 million people in need of shelter support (Shelter Cluster Snapshot).
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- NRC global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329
- Communication specialist adviser Ingrid Prestetun: ingrid.prestetun@nrc.no, +47 907 02 252