A study by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has shown that humanitarian crises would spread more quickly throughout the world due to climate change in 2023, compounding the problems brought on by armed conflict and economic downturns.
Run by former UK politician David Miliband, the NGO noted that the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance has increased dramatically over the past ten years, surpassing 339.2 million as opposed to the 81 million recorded in 2014.
The IRC also highlighted that climate change is one of the main drivers exacerbating humanitarian calamities and that 2022 has shown that the role of climate change in accelerating the global humanitarian crisis is undeniable.”
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The report further made reference to record-long rainstorms that “caused catastrophic food insecurity to Somalia and Ethiopia” and killed thousands in Pakistan.
It noted that it was necessary to Invest more proactively in climate change prevention and mitigation as food insecurity is already widespread as a result of the escalating conflict, the economic crisis brought on by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the coronavirus pandemic.
Story was adapted from Reuters.
