More warming will have disastrous consequences unless urgent and ambitious mitigation measures are implemented
Twenty Five Countries are most vulnerable to climate change and are least prepared to adapt. Majority of these Countries are also involved in armed conflict
Patterns of deadly diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and cholera are changing
Droughts, floods, insect plagues, and changing rainfall patterns, according to the Red Cross, can jeopardise food production and people’s ability to survive. Extreme and more powerful weather events, such as cyclones, will destroy critical health infrastructure. According to the Red Cross, the patterns of deadly diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and cholera are changing.
The Red Cross is collaborating closely with communities in countries where climate change, armed conflict, and health crises are major concerns. According to Red Cross estimates, the most vulnerable countries to climate change are around Twenty five. These countries are least prepared to adapt, and the majority of them are also involved in armed conflict. Many of these countries lack basic healthcare, and in the event of a natural disaster, people’s lives, health, and livelihoods are jeopardised due to a lack of adequate food, water, and economic resources.
In recent years, Somalia has experienced an erratic cycle of droughts and floods, whilst already dire humanitarian situation exists in the Country. Situation is further exacerbated by three decades of armed conflict. Climate shocks are so frequent and severe that people have little time to adapt.
Flooding in South Sudan, devastating cyclones in Madagascar and Mozambique, and severe drought in the Horn of Africa are all examples of how the climate crisis exacerbates health and humanitarian crises.
“This is a crisis of solidarity and it is now giving way to a crisis of morality,” said Stephen Cornish, Director General of MSF Switzerland.
According to the Red Cross, the world has warmed by 1.2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and the world’s most vulnerable are paying the deadly price for a problem caused by the world’s wealthiest nations. More warming will have disastrous consequences unless urgent and ambitious mitigation measures are implemented. Adequate support must be mobilised for the majority of affected people and countries in order for them to adapt to rising climate risks.
According to the Red Cross, the Paris Agreement’s commitment to increase support for LDCs fails to recognise that a significant number of them are also affected by conflict and should be prioritised.
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