The Most Requested Items from Refugee Camps and What They Teach Us
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When people imagine humanitarian aid, they often picture pallets of random donated goods shipped across the world. But after years of working directly with refugee communities, I’ve learned something important: sending the wrong items can create as many problems as it solves.
In the organization that I have worked with over the years, Lifting Hands International, we don’t guess. We ask. We listen. And then we send exactly what refugees tell us they need.
No matter the country, climate, or culture, there are a handful of items that refugees request again and again. These requests reveal something powerful about what survival really looks like during an emergency.
Being a refugee is a real-life emergency situation. When someone is forced to flee their home, they lose not just shelter and belongings, but safety, dignity, and stability. The items they ask for most are the ones that protect health, warmth, and human dignity.
Aside from food and clean water, here are the six items that are requested in almost every location we serve—and why they matter.
1. Blankets
Blankets are almost always the first request.
Refugee camps often have limited heating, drafty shelters, and crowded living spaces. Nights can be bitterly cold, even in regions people assume are warm. Families need blankets to stay warm, to sleep, to pad hard ground, to wrap newborn babies, and to create a sense of privacy inside shared spaces.
A blanket is warmth. It is safety. It is comfort for someone who has lost everything familiar.
2. Diapers
Diapers are consistently requested because babies keep being born—even during crises.
Without diapers, parents must improvise with rags, strips of fabric, or nothing at all. This leads to rashes, infections, and unsanitary living conditions that spread illness in crowded camps.
Disposable diapers are especially important in places without reliable water for washing cloth diapers. And in places where families don't have enough reusable diapers to allow the diapers to dry after washing before putting it back on the baby. For parents already under unimaginable stress, having diapers protects their baby’s health and gives them one small piece of peace of mind.
3. Socks
Socks might seem small, but they are essential.
Many refugees walk long distances to reach safety. Shoes break. Feet blister. Cold and wet conditions cause infections and frostbite. Clean socks help prevent illness and injury, especially for children and the elderly.
Dry socks are also critical in preventing trench foot and fungal infections in damp conditions.
Something as simple as a new pair of socks can mean the difference between mobility and immobility.
4. Underwear
Underwear is one of the least donated—and most needed—items.
When families flee, they often leave with only what they are wearing. Clean underwear protects against infections, improves hygiene, and restores dignity. For women and girls especially, proper undergarments are essential for menstrual health and personal safety.
New underwear, including bras for the women and teenage girls, also carries emotional importance. It is one of the first steps toward feeling human again.
5. Hygiene Kits
Hygiene kits are requested everywhere because disease spreads quickly in crowded living conditions.
A basic hygiene kit may include:
- Soap
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Shampoo
- Washcloth
- Menstrual supplies
- Nail clippers
- Small towel
- Razor
These simple items prevent illness, reduce infection, and protect dignity. They help children go to school without shame. They help adults maintain hope and normalcy.
Cleanliness is not a luxury. It is survival.
Bonus Item: Tarps
Tarps are the unsung hero of refugee aid.
They are used for shelter roofs, ground covers, rain protection, privacy walls, makeshift doors, shade, water collection, wind barriers, barriers against unwanted critters entering their sleeping space, and patches to repair tents. In camps where housing materials are scarce, a single tarp can transform a dangerous living situation into a safer one.
Tarps are incredibly versatile and almost always requested once families realize how many uses they have.
What This Teaches Us About Preparedness
One of the most striking lessons from working with refugees is how closely their needs mirror what families need during any emergency—whether it’s an earthquake, wildfire, flood, or job loss.
Preparedness isn’t about gadgets. It’s about the basics that protect health, warmth, and dignity.
If you are building an emergency supply for your own family, consider including extra:
- Blankets
- Diapers (if needed), for babies and adults
- Socks and underwear
- Hygiene supplies
- Sturdy tarps
These items are simple, affordable, and lifesaving.
Listening First
The most important lesson of all is this: the people experiencing the crisis know what they need.
When we listen instead of assuming, our help becomes real help, and their experiences can teach us how to better prepare.
If you want to prepare your own family for emergencies, start with the basics. Start with compassion. And always start by listening.
Because sometimes the smallest items carry the greatest hope.
No fuss. No fluff. No fear.
Other Articles of Interest
Emergency Laundry and Water Reuse: How to Stay Clean Without Draining Your Clean Water
Comfort Items to Include in Your Emergency Supply
What if Grocery Stores Closed Tomorrow?
Sleeping Bags vs. Blankets: Which is Best for Your Emergency Kit
Important Documents to Have On Hand and How to Store Them Safely
How to Prep in a Small Space: Yes, Even in an Apartment
20 Five-Minute Preps You Can Do Today