Climate Change and War Affect the Most Vulnerable

Countries where conflicts are raging are also affected to a higher extent than others by climate change. For the population, the difficult combination leads to great suffering.

» Updated:

» Published:

Climate Change and War Affect the Most Vulnerable
Photo: Anmar Khalil/AP/TT

Share this article

Countries where conflicts are raging are also more severely affected by climate change.

The difficult combination leads to great suffering for the population.

In most of the 20 countries in the world that are most vulnerable to climate change, wars are also raging. The combination is difficult to handle, both for the population and for international aid organizations.

Conflicts and climate change often lead to people being forced to leave their homes, food production dwindling, and diseases spreading more rapidly while the healthcare sector weakens.

When disasters coincide, relief efforts in the area are also hindered, writes the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in a report on people's experiences of conflicts and climate risks.

"Climate change is cruel. Even though it will be felt everywhere, its most devastating effects will hit the world's most vulnerable," says Catherine-Lune Grayson, ICRC expert on climate change, in a press release.

Their ability to adapt is radically undermined by violence and instability.

The report is based on surveys in southern Iraq, northern Mali, and parts of the Central African Republic. It reflects, among other things, how people have had to adapt and been forced to change their ways of living.

By 2050, 200 million people may be in need of international humanitarian aid, which is twice as many as today, according to the ICRC.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Denmark Makes Historic Air Defense Purchase Amid Rising Tensions

Denmark Makes Historic Air Defense Purchase Amid Rising Tensions

Tusk Refutes Trump's Claim on Russian Drone Incident in Poland

Tusk Refutes Trump's Claim on Russian Drone Incident in Poland

EU Nations Clash Over 2040 Climate Goals Amid Car Ban Debate

EU Nations Clash Over 2040 Climate Goals Amid Car Ban Debate

Charlie Kirk Nominated for EU's Sakharov Prize for Human Rights

Charlie Kirk Nominated for EU's Sakharov Prize for Human Rights

US Senators Accuse America of Complicity in Gaza Ethnic Cleansing

US Senators Accuse America of Complicity in Gaza Ethnic Cleansing

UN to Vote on Gaza Two-State Solution Excluding Hamas

UN to Vote on Gaza Two-State Solution Excluding Hamas

Russia and Belarus Begin Joint Military Exercise

Russia and Belarus Begin Joint Military Exercise

Rubio to Meet Qatar's Leader After Israel's Attack

Rubio to Meet Qatar's Leader After Israel's Attack

Death Toll Rises Amid Nepal Protests as Thousands of Inmates Escape

Death Toll Rises Amid Nepal Protests as Thousands of Inmates Escape

Surveillance Video Released in Search for Charlie Kirk's Killer

Surveillance Video Released in Search for Charlie Kirk's Killer

Europe Struggles to Unite on Gaza Policy Amid Trump Concerns

Europe Struggles to Unite on Gaza Policy Amid Trump Concerns

Belarus Frees 52 Political Prisoners as US Eases Sanctions

Belarus Frees 52 Political Prisoners as US Eases Sanctions

Iran Confirms Enriched Nuclear Material Remains After Israeli Attacks

Iran Confirms Enriched Nuclear Material Remains After Israeli Attacks

Brazil's Former President Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Coup Attempt

Brazil's Former President Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Coup Attempt

UN Security Council Condemns Attack on Qatar, Urges De-escalation

UN Security Council Condemns Attack on Qatar, Urges De-escalation

Brazil's Ex-President Bolsonaro Guilty of Coup Attempt

Brazil's Ex-President Bolsonaro Guilty of Coup Attempt

Recent Politically Motivated Attacks That Shook the US

Recent Politically Motivated Attacks That Shook the US

Russia Cautions Poland on Belarus Border Closure Consequences

Russia Cautions Poland on Belarus Border Closure Consequences

Netanyahu Declares No Palestinian State in West Bank Speech

Netanyahu Declares No Palestinian State in West Bank Speech

Anti-Islamic Motorcycle Gang Secures Gaza Humanitarian Aid

Anti-Islamic Motorcycle Gang Secures Gaza Humanitarian Aid