A United Nations report highlights the devastating role of climate change in fueling a global refugee crisis, with Africa emerging as one of the hardest-hit regions. The number of displaced people globally has doubled over the past decade, reaching 120 million, including 90 million in countries highly vulnerable to climate-related hazards.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) revealed that three-quarters of the world’s forcibly displaced people are in regions severely affected by climate hazards. Countries such as Sudan, Somalia, and South Sudan exemplify the dire intersection of conflict and climate change, leaving millions with no safe haven.
“For the world’s most vulnerable people, climate change is a harsh reality that profoundly affects their lives,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. “The climate crisis is compounding the plight of those already uprooted by conflict and insecurity.”
African Nations at the Crossroads
Sudan stands as a stark example of this crisis. The ongoing war has forced 700,000 people to flee to neighboring Chad, itself highly exposed to climate risks. Meanwhile, those who remain in Sudan face displacement from catastrophic flooding.
Somalia and South Sudan, already grappling with years of conflict, are facing increasingly severe droughts and flooding, which exacerbate food insecurity and drive more people from their homes.
Climate activist and former refugee Grace Dorong from South Sudan emphasized the visible impacts in the region: “We see the effects of climate change before our very eyes. If decision-makers listen to us, we can be part of the solution.”
Calls for Global Action at COP29
The report was released during the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, where delegates from nearly 200 nations, including several African representatives, are debating solutions to climate challenges. A key demand is increasing the $100 billion annual climate funding target to support vulnerable nations.
Damilola Ogunbiyi, UN Special Representative on Sustainable Energy, underscored the urgency: “While investments in clean renewable energy are at record highs, only 15 percent of this funding goes to the Global South.”
The crisis highlights the disproportionate burden borne by African nations, underscoring the need for urgent international action to address climate-induced displacement and provide adequate support to affected communities.
