"The climate crisis is a humanitarian emergency" is the name of UNHCR's awareness campaign to raise the alarm about the impact not only on the whole planet, but on the poorest populations. In fact, it is mainly vulnerable people, including refugees and displaced persons, who live in conflict zones and fragile countries, who pay the greatest price. On the one hand, due to extreme weather phenomena such as floods, storms and droughts, we have recorded an average of 10.21 million new displaced people per year over the last 5 years, including 23.7 million in 2021 alone. On the other hand, climate change is a multiplier of other risk factors, including food insecurity. The campaign, just days before Earth Day on April 22, aims to raise awareness of the devastating effects of this crisis and raise funds to help tens of millions of people at risk.

© UNHCR/Tiksa Negeri

Climate crisis

One of the most catastrophic effects of the climate crisis is increased food insecurity. Food is becoming increasingly inaccessible due to water scarcity and productive land and the consequent impact on crops and food production. Food prices tend to rise, making it extremely difficult for many impoverished or displaced communities to access food. Globally, some 2021 million people were severely food insecure and in need of urgent assistance in 193 countries in 53, an increase of almost 40 million people from the previous peak reached in 2020.

© UNHCR/Nabil Narch

Climate crisis

To give just a couple of examples, the Horn of Africa, the African region that includes Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, is experiencing the worst drought in four decades. There are 23 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia severely food insecure. In Afghanistan, another country hit by severe drought, nearly 19 million people are food insecure.