Winter relief is the aid that humanitarian organizations provide before and during winter to protect displaced people, refugees and families affected by the cold, and it includes shelter, blankets, clothing, heating, food and health care. This page also gathers the main winter relief questions and answers, with links to the articles in the series.
Winter relief questions and answers
What is winter relief?
Seasonal aid that humanitarian organizations provide to protect displaced people and families affected by the cold, including tents, blankets, warm clothes, heating fuel, food and health care. Its projects change every year according to the crises, the places of displacement and the severity of the weather.
How many forcibly displaced people need help?
The number of forcibly displaced people in the world reached 117.8 million people at the end of 2025, including 41.6 million refugees, and 70 percent of refugees live in protracted displacement, so their need for warmth returns every winter.
Why do winter campaigns return every year?
Because displacement lasts a long time, and with it the risks of cold and rain to tents and temporary homes come back. You will find the explanation in Why do winter campaigns return every year?.
What are the dangers of the cold for children?
Hypothermia and serious respiratory infections, especially in children with weak immunity, according to UNICEF. In Gaza, for example, deaths from the cold were recorded in the 2025-2026 winter. The details are in The cold and children’s health.
What does a displaced family need to get through winter?
Sound shelter, covers and blankets, warm clothes, a source of heating, hot food and sandbags for drainage. You will find the table in How do you prepare a displaced family for winter?.
What is the situation in Gaza in winter?
About 800 thousand people in Gaza live in flood-prone sites according to the United Nations, and 1.3 million remained without adequate winter shelter in early December 2025. You will also find the details in Winter in Gaza.
What is the situation in the camps of northern Syria?
The storm of 31 December 2025 hit ninety displacement sites and affected more than 150 thousand people, and about 5,000 shelters were damaged. The details are in Northern Syria camps in winter.
What does Qatar Charity provide in winter campaigns?
It provides food, clothing, shelter, heating and health care. The 2023-2024 campaign reached 7.5 million people in 14 countries, and the “How Long?” campaign was launched for the 2024-2025 season in 25 countries. You will find the figures in The winter campaign in Qatar and in What is the winter campaign?.
What about workers inside Qatar?
Inside Qatar, the winter campaign focused on workers, and about 4,500 workers benefited in the 2023-2024 season from winter bags, food baskets and medical aid. You will find the details in The winter bag for workers.
What kinds of charity suit winter?
Clothes, blankets, food, support for displaced people, orphan sponsorship and health care, and you can choose a recurring charity. You will find the details in Charity in winter.
How do I take part in winter relief?
You can take part through the donation page on the Qatar Charity website, and review the options of the current campaign before completing your donation, because its projects and countries change every season.
