As summer beckons here in Australia, thousands of refugee families are preparing for another brutal winter. In the coming weeks, temperatures will fall below freezing, putting anyone sleeping outside or in a damp and flimsy shelter, at real risk of hypothermia. This year, Syrian and Afghan families are particularly vulnerable and face a dangerous combination of conflict, extreme climate events and COVID-19. They’ve already suffered from war, but now they have to contend with the pandemic and worsening climate crisis, which is contributing to harsher winters. Every year at this time, UNHCR launches a massive relief operation to help these vulnerable families prepare for the cold. The Winter Survival Fund helps thousands of refugees receive shelter insulation kits, cash assistance, heaters, warm blankets and other essential winter supplies to help them through the cold winter months. 

Another way you can support Afghan families is through our fundraising appeal, Batting for Afghanistan spearheaded by cricketing legend and Australia for UNHCR Special Representative Ian Chappell. We encourage all our supporters to help UNHCR’s efforts in Afghanistan by buying a ‘virtual bat’ for $25 and leaving a message of support for the Afghan people. You can also bid on once-in-a-lifetime sporting memorabilia and experiences, including lunch with Ian Chappell, John Newcombe and Bryan Brown at an iconic Sydney restaurant.  

This month, we also share an update on the maternal health project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), funded by our partner Teachers Health, which has helped to provide life-saving support for women and babies in the region. Over the past three years, Teachers Health has enabled over 128,000 free health consultations for refugees and local host community members and provided essential equipment and supplies, including a neonatal incubator, solar lighting, essential medicines and salaries for doctors and nurses. 

While climate change continues to impact us all, refugees are leading the way in creating positive change. We feature a story on the 'Great Green Wall' being built by refugees in Cameroon to combat desertification. Refugees and host communities in northern Cameroon have planted 360,000 seedlings, transforming the environment in and around Minawao refugee camp, with incredible results.

Finally, we would like to thank everyone who joined our special Afghanistan briefing earlier this month. As part of the event we heard from a panel of experts who shared their insights and views about the current situation in Afghanistan. For those who were not able to join, you can watch the full recording here.