The climate crisis is also a humanitarian crisis. As our world faces unprecedented changes, the peace and stability of the natural and human worlds remain threatened.
Climate change is responsible for many of our planet’s problems, topping nearly every list of reasons why we are losing so many species, rainforests, and marine ecosystems. It’s also one of the leading causes of humanitarian crises and drivers of need.
Countries facing climate disasters
Because of climate change, many already vulnerable communities are experiencing high levels of crop failure, food insecurity, and water shortages, due to intensified climate patterns, including severe and persistent droughts, widespread flooding, and extreme weather events. Currently, these countries are facing the greatest climate shocks in 2024:
- Somalia — Nearly 7 million people in need
- Syria — Nearly 17 million in need
- Democratic Republic of Congo — A quarter of the population in need
- Chad — 32% of the population in need
- Yemen — Over 20 million people in need
- South Sudan — 9 million people in need
- Central African Republic — 3.4 million people in need
- Nigeria — Nearly 27 million people in need
- Ethiopia — 21 million people in need
- Afghanistan — More than 23 million people in need
A child’s future shaped by the climate
Sadly, many children carry the burden of climate change. It’s expected that hundreds of millions of children are at risk of severe flooding, heatwaves, and water scarcity, and nearly 1 billion children are exposed to high levels of air pollution. Some children bear the brunt even more; in nearly 98% of African countries, children face climate-related risks. Many have had to leave home and school in search of food and water:
“We walked for eight days to reach here [nearby town]. There was nothing to feed my children. They would cry and cry and cry. At some point, I thought of taking my own life instead of watching them die of hunger in front of me.” - Shamsa Amin Ali, 38, Somali refugee in Kenya (UNHCR)
How can you help this Earth Week?
Setting up a monthly donation to a leading humanitarian organization, such as MSF, is an easy yet powerful way to make a real difference in the fight to protect vulnerable communities from the devastating impacts of climate change.
