“Climate Change and Conflict: A Cruel Combo Impacting the World’s Most Vulnerable”
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has released a new report titled “When Rain Turns to Dust,” highlighting the devastating impact of climate change and conflict on the world’s most vulnerable populations. The report is based on research conducted in southern Iraq, northern Mali, and the Central African Republic, where people are facing the dual threats of conflict and climate risks.
According to the report, countries affected by conflict are also the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. These dual threats are pushing people out of their homes, disrupting food production, cutting off essential supplies, amplifying diseases, and weakening health-care services. The ICRC warns that by 2050, 200 million people could require international humanitarian aid annually, double the current number.
Catherine-Lune Grayson, the ICRC’s expert on climate change, emphasized the cruel effects of climate change on the world’s most vulnerable populations. She stated that the ability of conflict-affected communities to adapt to climate shocks is being eroded by violence and instability, leading to loss of lives.
The report highlights the experiences of people in conflict-affected regions, such as Mali, Iraq, and the Central African Republic. In these areas, individuals are facing challenges related to access to water and food, economic security, and changing weather patterns. Farmers and herders are experiencing tensions due to shifting movement patterns, and traditional coping mechanisms are no longer sufficient to deal with the impacts of climate change and conflict.
The ICRC is calling for increased mobilization within and beyond the humanitarian sector to ensure that climate action and finance reach conflict zones. The organization emphasizes the need to support communities in adapting to a changing climate and prevent further humanitarian crises in fragile and conflict-affected states.
For more information on the ICRC report and its findings, visit the ICRC’s newsroom or webpage on climate change and conflict. Contact Aurélie Lachant, ICRC Geneva Public Relations Officer, for further inquiries.
This report sheds light on the urgent need to address the intersection of climate change and conflict, which poses a significant threat to the world’s most vulnerable populations. It calls for immediate action to support communities facing these dual challenges and prevent further humanitarian crises in the future.