10 Major Emergencies that UNHCR Responded to in 2023

In 2023, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, dispatched timely, life-saving aid in emergencies, serving up to 16.7 million people.

Thanks to the generous support from public and private donors, UNHCR was able to provide timely, life-saving assistance and protection services to the people most affected by crises.

Here are just some of the areas where you have helped us make an impact in 10 major emergencies. ⬇️

1. Türkiye and Syria

📌 In February 2023, massive earthquakes hit south-eastern Türkiye and northern Syria, affecting millions of people and causing untold destruction.

In Türkiye, we provided relief items to earthquake survivors, and counseling and cash assistance for refugees. 

In Syria, we provided protection aid, distributed relief kits and tents.

2. Ethiopia

📌 In February 2023, conflict and violence in Laascaanood displaced hundreds of thousands of people and caused an influx of Somali refugees in Ethiopia, which has been facing multiple emergencies amid critical levels of underfunding. 

We relocated Somali refugees to safer areas, ensuring essentials like biometric registration, water and shelter.

3. Sudan

📌 In April 2023, a deadly conflict broke out in Sudan and forced over 7 million people to flee, seeking safety and protection both inside the country and in bordering countries.

We supported internally displaced people and refugees inside Sudan and built and upgraded transit facilities in neighbouring countries to receive new arrivals.

4. Democratic Republic of the Congo

📌 As a result of an alarming resurgence of violence generated by armed groups, 5.8 million people have been displaced in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

We built transitional shelters and relocated vulnerable displaced individuals to safer areas. 

5. Myanmar and Bangladesh

📌 In 2023, harsh weather conditions like cyclones and heavy monsoons caused widespread destruction and added to the struggles of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and the internally displaced in Myanmar.

We distributed shelter supplies and aid to those affected by the heavy rain and assisted the families whose shelters were damaged.

6. Libya

📌 In September 2023, Storm Daniel brought record-breaking rainfall, causing devastating floods that wiped out neighbourhoods and displaced thousands of people. 

We expanded aid efforts in response to the devastating floods, reaching affected individuals with vital relief items and some medical supplies.

7. Armenia

📌 In September 2023, an escalation of hostilities in Karabakh caused more than 100,000 refugees to arrive in Armenia in less than a week.

We supported registration of new arrivals, undertook protection monitoring and provided emergency supplies to refugees, including foldable beds and kitchen sets. 

8. Afghanistan

📌 In October 2023, powerful earthquakes hit Herat province, claiming lives, destroying homes and displacing many. 

Pakistan’s order for undocumented foreigners forced hundreds of thousands of Afghans to return to their country, deepening Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis.

We provided cash aid, relief items and community programmes, reaching families affected by the earthquakes. We assisted Afghans forcefully returned from Pakistan. 

9. Horn of Africa

📌 In November 2023, severe floods caused tragic loss of lives, extensive damage and forced thousands of people to flee their homes in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.

We distributed emergency relief, dignity kits, cash-for-shelter repairs and flood protection sandbags to affected communities, including shelter for displaced people in Somalia.

10. Latin America and the Caribbean

📌 In December 2023, the number of refugees and migrants making the dangerous journey across the Darien jungle reached an unprecedented 500,000 – more than double the crossings in 2022.

We bolstered border presence, offering legal aid, shelter, relocation support and cash assistance to refugees and migrants. 

What you can do in 2024 to help?

More than 114 million people have been forced to flee war, conflict, and persecution from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Yemen, and other parts of the world. They need protection, shelter, access to clean water, health care, education, and jobs. They need a fair chance.  

With your help, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, can support refugees so they may have hope of a better future.  

But we can’t do it without your support.  Please give what you can to help us in our mission.

📌 Click here to donate what you can.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. Together with almost 20,000 staff working around the world, we strive for a world where every person forced to flee can build a better future.