War and conflict are no longer the primary drivers of displacement and humanitarian crises. More extreme weather and other climate change impacts are increasingly playing a role. In 2016 alone, 24 million people were forced from their homes by weather-related disasters, far more than were displaced by conflict. Meanwhile, more frequent and protracted droughts, especially in poor and unstable countries in Africa and the Middle East, are undermining food security, causing people to migrate in order to survive, and fueling pre-existing social and ethnic tensions.
For Thousands Left Homeless by Hurricanes Irma and Harvey, Urgent Need to Prevent Long-Term Displacement
As the Caribbean, Florida, and Texas face the long road to recovery following Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, a window of opportunity exists to mitigate the human displacement created by these large-scale disasters and to build resilience to future events. These two priorities should inform how the United States is responding to these types of disasters. This blog outlines some important lessons that must inform the hurricane response in the future if we are going to keep pace with the increasing impacts of climate change impacts on population displacement:
Surviving Somalia’s Current Drought
Somalia is again in the throes of another drought that by many accounts is worse than the last. Thankfully, greater government control and a prompt humanitarian response by the government and aid agencies have saved lives, but the scale of displacement is enormous. More than 760,000 Somalis have been displaced across the country since November 2016, 160,000 of them to Mogadishu. Here they are struggling to access assistance and protection in a dangerous and volatile environment.
On World Refugee Day, More Action is needed on Climate-Related Displacement
War and conflict are no longer the primary drivers of displacement and humanitarian crises. More extreme weather and other climate change impacts are increasingly playing a role. In 2016 alone, 24 million people were forced from their homes by weather-related disasters, far more than were displaced by conflict. Meanwhile, more frequent and protracted droughts, especially in poor and unstable countries in Africa and the Middle East, are undermining food security, causing people to migrate in order to survive, and fueling pre-existing social and ethnic tensions.
Trump Administration’s Failure to Act to Address Climate Change will Lead to More Displacement, Migration, and Humanitarian Emergencies
Refugees International is dismayed and deeply alarmed by the Trump administration’s decision to pull out of international efforts to tackle one of the most significant threats to global stability and security the world has ever faced: climate change.
RI Urges Swift Response to Cyclone Mora Devastation, Rohingya Refugees Particularly Vulnerable
Refugees International s greatly concerned for those affected by Cyclone Mora and urges a swift response to assist vulnerable populations and those most impacted by the storm.
Two Steps Back: Haiti Still Reeling from Hurricane Matthew
Hurricane Matthew devestated Haiti and has not attracted the financial support and attention it deserved from the international community.
Accelerating Threats from Climate Change: Disasters and Displacement in Myanmar
Myanmar must confront its extreme vulnerability to climate change.
UN Moves Forward on Task Force to Protect So-Called “Climate Refugees”
Nations will soon meet in Marrakesh to discuss progress on the landmark UN Climate Change Agreement reached in Paris last year. On the agenda will be the increasing impacts of climate change on displacement and migration, including a decision to establish a “Climate Displacement Task Force.”
From Bad to Worse: Deepening Impacts of Zimbabwe’s Drought
Zimbabwe’s future appears precariously poised on an edge.
Humanitarian crises & climate change: What did the WHS Achieve?
Earlier this week, some 9,000 participants from around the world gathered in Istanbul for the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit (WHS). The Summit was the brainchild of outgoing UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon who, during his tenure, has witnessed a humanitarian system strained to the point of breaking.