Unicef: Climate disasters displace millions of children – 10/06/2023 – Environment

Unicef, the UN children’s agency, said this Friday (6) that floods, storms and other climate disasters have driven millions of children from their homes, and that the situation is likely to deteriorate if measures are not taken.

There were 43.1 million internal displacements of children recorded in 44 countries between 2016 and 2021 due to events such as droughts and forest fires, according to the organization.

Unicef ​​recorded the highest number of climate-related child displacements in the East Asia and Pacific region, due to a combination of hazards in that region, followed by South Asia.

Among the countries with the highest absolute numbers are China and the Philippines, which is driven by their exposure to extreme weather events, their large child populations and evacuation capabilities.

“As the impacts of climate change increase, so do climate-driven movements,” Unicef ​​Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement. “We have the tools and knowledge to respond to this growing challenge for children, but we are moving too slowly.”

Extreme weather events have become increasingly common due to climate change, caused by the emission of greenhouse gases from human activities.

According to the report “Displaced Children in a Changing Climate”, prepared by the UN body, floods and storms were responsible for 95% of child displacements during the six-year period.

The study predicts that around 96 million children will have to leave their homes due to river flooding alone over the next three decades — an average of almost 3.2 million children per year.