Humanitarian agencies scale up emergency shelter response as global displacement rises
- Editorial Team SDG16
- 17 hours ago
- 3 min read
Humanitarian organisations have intensified efforts to respond to a surge in global displacement, with urgent shelter needs rising sharply in high-conflict areas including Gaza and Afghanistan. The 2026 Global Humanitarian Overview sets a collective target to assist 135 million people across 50 countries, requiring about $33bn in funding.
The plan comes as aid agencies warn that humanitarian needs are accelerating faster than access and financing can keep pace. Of an estimated 239 million people in need globally, humanitarians say they aim to reach 135 million, with an immediate priority of saving 87 million lives.
Emergency shelter distributions accelerate in early February
In the first week of February, UN shelter partners reported a large-scale mobilisation to provide immediate relief to displaced families. More than 5,600 families received emergency shelter assistance in just over one week, reflecting the speed and volume of support now required in multiple crises.
The distribution included around 5,000 tarpaulins and more than 12,000 bedding items. Alongside these physical supplies, protection partners reached nearly 15,000 people with psychosocial support during the same seven-day period.
Gaza response expands amid severe restrictions
In the Occupied Palestinian Territory, partners reported that, despite severe restrictions, they reached over 85,000 families in January 2026 with similar assistance. The reported support included nearly 8,000 tents.
Aid agencies have also raised concerns that durable shelter solutions remain blocked in many places because authorities have not granted permission to bring in machinery and construction materials needed to repair damaged homes. That leaves many families reliant on short-term shelter items for longer than planned.
Global appeals focus on crisis hubs including Sudan, Afghanistan and Syria
The 2026 plan outlines major response hubs and funding appeals. Gaza is targeted with a $4.1bn appeal to reach 3 million people, while Sudan requires $2.9bn for 20 million people caught in what aid agencies describe as the world’s largest displacement crisis.
Afghanistan is projected to face severe shelter pressures, with an estimated 4.2 million people expected to need shelter support in 2026 due to disasters, returns and economic hardship, and partners aiming to reach 881,000 of them. Syria is described as the largest regional plan, seeking $2.8bn for 8.6 million people.
Aid worker deaths and worsening hunger heighten risks
Aid organisations have warned of a “New World Disorder”, where conflict and funding cuts are hampering operations. They report that between October 2023 and 9 February 2026, at least 588 aid workers have been killed in the Gaza Strip alone, including 396 UN staff and 133 NGO workers.
The wider crisis environment is also shaped by worsening food insecurity. Aid agencies report that about 37 million people globally are facing IPC Phase 4, an emergency level of food insecurity, the highest figure recorded since 2021, adding pressure to emergency systems already stretched by displacement and shelter loss.
Practical implications for response planning
The reported constraints on materials and access mean shelter responses are likely to remain centred on emergency shelter items and basic protection services, rather than rapid rebuilding. For donors and decision-makers, the funding targets and security risks signal rising operational costs and difficult prioritisation choices, with knock-on effects for communities’ ability to recover in line with the sustainable development goals.
