The number of people worldwide in need of shelter due to humanitarian crises has more than doubled since 2019, a new report from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) reveals. By 2025, over 91 million people displaced by conflicts and natural disasters will urgently require shelter, a dramatic increase from the 37.5 million recorded in 2019.
“Shelter is more than just four walls and a roof. It provides safety, dignity, and a foundation for displaced people to begin rebuilding their lives,” said Amelia Rule, NRC’s global lead for shelter and settlement. She emphasized the critical role shelters play in protecting people from violence, diseases, and harsh weather conditions.
The NRC’s emergency solutions include family-sized tents, kits for sealing damaged buildings, tarpaulins, and tools for repairing homes. These interventions are being deployed in crisis-hit areas such as Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, and Lebanon.
In Sudan alone, over 14 million people have been displaced due to conflict, leaving millions to seek refuge in overcrowded and makeshift structures. Similarly, in Gaza, an estimated 1.4 million people are in dire need of shelter support.
“There is an urgent need to provide emergency shelter before the harsh winter sets in,” Rule urged. “At the same time, we must focus on sustainable, long-term solutions.”
Despite the escalating demand, funding for global shelter initiatives remains critically low. NRC reports that only 27% of the required funding for 2024 has been secured, leaving millions at risk of exposure to harsh elements and unsafe living conditions.
NRC’s shelter teams continue to work tirelessly in some of the world’s largest emergencies, striving to address the widening gap between needs and available resources. Without swift and substantial international support, the crisis is likely to worsen, with millions left vulnerable to the consequences of displacement and homelessness.
![](https://amnewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ami-banner.png"/)
