What a terrible year 2024 has been in terms of human suffering

In Ukraine, this year has seen the highest number of civilian casualties. Power grids are under constant attack, now leaving people exposed to freezing temperatures. The latest escalation of hostilities in Syria have displaced tens of thousands of people. In Lebanon, which once provided refuge to more than a million Syrians fleeing war, the country is now itself facing a humanitarian crisis. Not only do Syrian refugees face an uncertain future, but their hosts, the Lebanese population has also suffered from massive bombings. Meanwhile, Palestinians in Gaza are on the brink of famine, Haiti is plagued with renewed violence and Sudan is engulfed in flames. The list of tragedies goes on and on. As a result, scores of people are on the move in search of safety, food and a roof above their family’s head.  

However, very few of these displaced people will ever reach our shores. Yet, despite this harsh reality, the political discourse across some parts of Europe has once again shifted towards closing borders and restricting access to asylum. But those of us who are involved in welcoming asylum seekers know that many who do make it to Europe will be forced to sleep on the streets, desperately seeking shelter from the cold as winter sets in. 

An elderly woman walks down a street lined with bombed-out buildings in the city of Tyre, southern Lebanon, on November 30, 2024, just days after the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. This coastal city suffered significant damage from airstrikes during hostilities that claimed the lives of more than 3,700 people in Lebanon since October 2023, according to Lebanese health authorities. © UNHCR/Ximena Borrazas

Distribution of rapid thermal kits by UNHCR and its NGO partner Right to Protection in Huta Mezhyhirska, Kyiv Oblast. Each kit includes materials for quickly and easily insulating windows and doors, enabling residents to prepare their homes for winter. © UNHCR/Iryna Tymchyshyn

Alijuma Nikbakht lives with her family in the mountainous village of Qala-e-Sabzi. This winter, the family has a new two-room house and a traditional heater, a bukhari. UNHCR, in collaboration with @WSTA_org, supported 14 families in the village by providing shelters and bukharis. © UNHCR/Kajsa Waaghals

I know that many of us are worried about the economy, security, and global uncertainty. However, the reception, housing and homelessness challenges we face across Europe are not solely due to people seeking refuge and safety here. These issues are driven by a combination of factors, including economic pressures, social inequalities, housing market dynamics and political decisions. In fact, restricting reception and housing, while more people end up homeless will not improve security or strengthen the economy. On the ground, the evidence shows the opposite. 

As we enter the final weeks of 2024, I like many of us reflect on the past year and wonder whether we still have the capacity to care for others? Have we lost sight of the shared responsibility we have to protect the most vulnerable, regardless of where they come from, which God they pray to, or the colour of their skin? 

Have we lost sight of the shared responsibility we have to protect the most vulnerable, regardless of where they come from, which God they pray to, or the colour of their skin? 

Whether in faraway lands or here in Belgium, I am confident that we have scores of supporters – at times, a silent majority – who still want to make a difference for refugees. And you can count on us, the United Nations Refugee Agency, to continue advocating with governments to keep borders open for those in need of protection and to ensure that services are in place to alleviate and prevent further human suffering. This winter our teams in Ukraine and Lebanon, and other places are tirelessly working to repair shelters, provide heaters, or offer collective housing for people with nowhere to go. 

Learn more about UNHCR's winter aid

Here in Belgium our teams will continue advocating with authorities to secure accommodation for all asylum seekers. UNHCR is also working with refugees and other actors who manage collective shelters, to seek solutions for those sleeping on our cities’ streets. Having a roof over one’s head, especially during winter, is a lifeline. It is a first step to regain some dignity. A first step towards healing wounds. 

We cannot do this alone – and I know that we can count on you. For the millions of people fleeing who depend on our work, humanity is critical. Keep speaking out and demand that refugees, wherever they are, are treated with dignity and are welcomed. This includes in our own community.  

Jean-Nicolas Beuze 

UNHCR Representative for the EU, Belgium, Luxembourg and The Netherlands