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Nearly 90 million displaced facing severe climate risks: UN
The UN refugee agency says nearly 90 million refugees and other forcibly displaced people face severe climate risks, as three-quarters of displaced people live in countries highly exposed to climate hazards. It warned that droughts, floods and extreme heat are making displacement more dangerous and undermining the chances of people rebuilding their lives.
More than two-thirds of refugees who returned home in the first half of this year went to countries highly vulnerable to climate hazards; in Syria, declining groundwater and flooding are threatening recovery. UNHCR says weather-related disasters caused more than 255 million internal displacements over the past decade, while severe flooding could displace up to three million people in four East African countries by the end of 2026. It also says just 10 per cent of global climate finance reaches fragile and conflict-affected countries hosting many climate-exposed displaced people.
In short
- Nearly 90 million displaced people face severe climate risks.
- Climate disasters caused 255 million internal displacements over a decade.
- UNHCR wants displaced people included in climate plans and funding.
Explained simply
Refugees are people who have crossed an international border to escape danger, while other forcibly displaced people include those who have had to leave home but remain within their own country. Many live in places already affected by conflict or poverty, where drought, floods and extreme heat can damage homes, water supplies and livelihoods.
Climate hazards can make it harder for displaced people to find safety or rebuild after returning home. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, says weather-related disasters have also forced millions of people to move within their own countries over the past decade. Its concerns include whether countries hosting displaced people can access enough funding to prepare for climate risks and respond to them.
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