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Syria Snowstorm Leaves 150,000 Displaced in Crisis, UN Warns of Funding Gap

A devastating snowstorm in northern Syria at the end of December impacted over 150,000 displaced people across 90 sites, claiming the lives of two infants. The storm destroyed or damaged approximately 5,000 fragile shelters, exposing thousands to freezing temperatures and health risks. The UN humanitarian office reports a critical funding shortfall, having received only $29 million of the $112 million needed for winter assistance. Displaced families, living in makeshift structures, face extreme vulnerability each winter, which they now approach with fear.

Key Points: Syria Snowstorm Affects 150,000 Displaced, Damages Shelters

  • Storm hit 90 displacement sites
  • Two infant deaths reported
  • 5,000 shelters destroyed or damaged
  • UN faces 74% winter funding gap
2 min read

Northern Syria snowstorm affects more than 150,000 displaced people: UN

A severe snowstorm in northern Syria damaged 5,000 shelters, affected over 150,000 displaced people, and revealed a critical $83M winter aid funding shortfall.

"Winter has become a season that Syrians in the north await with fear and caution. - Xinhua report"

United Nations, Jan 7

A snowstorm on December 31 in northern Syria hit 90 sites for the displaced, affecting more than 150,000 people, destroying or damaging 5,000 shelters, UN humanitarians said.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said its partners in the governorates of Aleppo, Idlib and Al-Hasakah reported the storm claimed the lives of two infants due to extreme cold.

Thousands of people were exposed to freezing temperatures at risk of hypothermia and respiratory diseases, OCHA said. Humanitarians have provided more than 10,000 displaced people in camps with stoves and fuel since the snowstorm.

The United Nations and its partners need $112 million for life-saving winter assistance from September 2025 to March 2026, OCHA said. So far, only $29 million has been received, leaving a 74 per cent funding gap, Xinhua news agency reported.

Winter in Syria can be extremely tough. Freezing cold winds, heavy rain, and sporadic snowfall combine together to create dire, and at times dangerous, situations for people across the country.

Displaced families are often the most affected. Because of the volatile economic circumstances they live in, most displaced families can only afford to build fragile, short-term structures as dwellings. These structure are often built on barren ground out of carton, scrap wood or tarmac, leaving the people that live inside them vulnerable to the harsh weather of Syrian winters. At almost any time a dwelling can damaged by the winded, or be flooded because of rainfall or snowfall.

If the weather is particularly bad, it can destroy the fragile structures entirely, forcing camp residents to move locations and rebuild during the most difficult period of the year. Because of this, winter has become a season that Syrians in the north await with fear and caution.

The weather, and lack of shelter, can have a brutal impact on displaced families' health.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul R
Living in cardboard and scrap wood shelters during a snowstorm... unimaginable. It's a stark reminder of how privileged we are. I hope our government and NGOs can also contribute to the relief efforts. Every bit helps.
A
Aman W
The article mentions they need $112 million but have only received $29 million. That's a massive shortfall. Where is all the aid money going? There needs to be more transparency and accountability in these humanitarian funds. Just my two cents.
S
Sarah B
"Winter has become a season that Syrians in the north await with fear and caution." This line hit me hard. We take so much for granted – a solid roof, a warm blanket. My thoughts are with all those families trying to rebuild in the freezing cold.
V
Vikram M
This is a true humanitarian crisis. While we have our own challenges, we must remember our shared humanity. I recall the Kerala floods and how the world helped. We should extend the same compassion. Are there any reliable Indian charities working on the ground there?
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Nikhil C
Providing stoves and fuel is a good start, but it's a band-aid solution. The focus needs to be on more permanent, weather-resistant shelters. The cycle of destruction and rebuilding every winter must be broken. The UN's plan needs to be more long-term.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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