Category: Africa

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Climate Migrants Must Get Visas to Stop “Shocking” Number of Deaths in EU, Says UN Expert

11 July 2023 – by Cosmo Sanderson

In the wake of the latest catastrophic sinking of a migrant boat in the Mediterranean, a UN expert has called on countries to stop the “shocking” number of migrant deaths in Europe by providing humanitarian visas to those displaced by the climate crisis.  

The international community “must realise its responsibility” to protect people displaced by global warming, says Ian Fry, UN special rapporteur on human rights in the context of climate change.

Fry last month issued a report calling on the UN’s Human Rights Council to submit a resolution to the UN General Assembly, urging it to develop a protocol under a 1951 refugee convention to bolster protections for people affected by the climate crisis. 

Until then, he urged all nations to pass laws providing “humanitarian visas” to people displaced by the climate crisis as an “interim measure.”

“The effects of climate change are becoming more severe, and the number of people displaced across international borders is rapidly increasing,” says Fry, a dual national of Tuvalu and Australia who the UN last year appointed as its first special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change.

In 2020 alone, 30.7 million people were displaced due to weather-related events, says Fry in his report. Droughts, such as that currently gripping the Horn of Africa, which has resulted in the displacement of over two million people, were said to be the “main factor.”

People displaced by climate change face multiple human rights violations including of their rights to “food, water, sanitation, housing, health, education and, for some, their right to life,” says Fry. “We must take immediate steps to give legal protection to these people.”

Among the most recent to pay the ultimate price for trying to seek a better life in Europe were around 600 people who are either confirmed or presumed dead after their overcrowded fishing vessel sank off the coast of Greece in June. 

Fry says it is “shocking” to note that, of an estimated 50,000 migrants to have lost their lives or gone missing crossing land and sea borders between 2014 to 2022, “more than half of those deaths occurred on routes to and within Europe, including in the Mediterranean Sea.”

One recent study found that the climate crisis could within decades push billions of people into living in “unprecedented” heat unsuitable for human survival, acting as a massive catalyst for further displacement. UN secretary general António Guterres recently warned that sea level rise alone could lead to migration on a “biblical” scale.

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A “Dangerous Link”: Climate-Fuelled Violence in the Lake Chad Basin

Lake Chad in Nigeria's northeastern Borno State

1 March 2023 – by Cosmo Sanderson

A new report has found climate change is fuelling violence that has led to the displacement of over 5 million people in the Lake Chad Basin, calling for action that recognises the “dangerous link” between the issues. 

Refugees International released a report in January arguing that the influence of climate change on conflict and displacement in the basin has been “ignored for too long”. 

Governments and agencies need to “move beyond” an approach that focuses only on regional security, according to the US-based NGO. “That approach not only misses the worsening impacts of climate change and displacement but overlooks how they fuel insecurity.”

The Lake Chad Basin serves as an important source of freshwater and fish as well as a trading hub for the four countries that share its shores: Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger.  

However for the last 13 years the region around the lake in all four countries has been ravaged by conflict and violence. The UN estimates that 24 million people are now affected by the crisis, with around 5.3 million displaced. 

In its report, Refugees International says the crisis and displacement caused are often “viewed through the lens of regional security” – including attacks by Islamist groups such as Boko Haram in Nigeria. 

But the report argues that the uptick in conflict and displacement has been fuelled by increased competition for land, water and food as a result of global warming.  

A “prime example” of this came in Cameroon in 2021, when climate-driven scarcity triggered tensions between fishing, farming and herding communities – resulting in an “eruption of violence”. Around 60,000 Cameroonians sought refuge in neighbouring Chad as a result. 

The report called for a then-upcoming summit on the Lake Chad Basin, which took place last month, to “address the nexus of climate change, violence and displacement” as part of its plan for stabilising the region. 

Speaking at the conference, Niger’s foreign minister Hassoumi Massoudou acknowledged that action taken so far seems “very far from the reality” of the needs of those being exposed to the “cumulative effects of insecurity and climate change.”

Over US$500 million in aid was pledged at the conference, although this sum is far short of the estimated US$1.8 billion the UN has said is required. 

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Two Million Displaced by Drought in Horn of Africa

10 January 2023 – by Cosmo Sanderson

Over two million people have been uprooted in the Horn of Africa as the region suffers its worst drought for generations. 

UNICEF last month released the latest estimate of how many people have been internally displaced by the drought across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.

Other bleak statistics released by the children’s aid agency are that over 20 million children are threatened by severe hunger, thirst and disease – up from 10 million in July. 

Nearly two million children in those three countries are thought to need urgent treatment for severe acute malnutrition, which UNICEF says is the deadliest form of hunger. A further four million children are at risk of dropping out of school. 

This has been caused through a combination of the climate crisis, conflict, global inflation and grain shortages that continue to “devastate” the region, says UNICEF. 

“While collective and accelerated efforts have mitigated some of the worst impact of what had been feared, children in the Horn of Africa are still facing the most severe drought in more than two generations,” said Lieke van de Wiel, UNICEF deputy regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa. 

In a report published last month, the NASA Earth Observatory went further in saying that the Horn of Africa is experiencing the “longest and most severe drought on record”. 

To make matters even worse, UNICEF says the region is now facing an “unprecedented” fifth consecutive failed rainy season, with a poor outlook for the sixth as well. 

Last year, the International Organization for Migration launched a new project to provide emergency relief to those displaced by the crisis in Somalia. 

Elsewhere in Africa, including South Sudan and Nigeria, erratic weather conditions have led to devastating floods that have also resulted in mass displacement. 

The World Bank has previously predicted that there will be 85.7 million climate migrants in sub-Saharan Africa by 2050. 

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Historic Flooding Causing “Devastation” in South Sudan, says UN

Bentiu, the capital of South Sudan’s Unity State, has become an island surrounded by floodwaters

31 October 2022 – by Cosmo Sanderson

Devastating and historic flooding in South Sudan has affected almost one million people and transformed one city into an island amid rising waters, as the United Nations’ refugee agency pleads for international support.

Speaking in Geneva this month, UNHCR spokesperson Boris Cheshirkov said that while global attention is currently directed “elsewhere” – a possible reference to the ongoing war in Ukraine – South Sudan’s “protracted and chronically underfunded crisis needs urgent support.”

Two thirds of South Sudan is currently experiencing flooding after a fourth consecutive year of record-breaking rains fuelled by climate change, said Cheshirkov. Over 900,000 of its 11 million population are directly affected. 

“Waters have swept away homes and livestock, forced thousands to flee, and inundated large swathes of farmland, worsening an already dire food emergency,” he said. “Boreholes and latrines have been submerged, contaminating water sources and risking outbreaks of diseases.”

Bentiu, the capital of the country’s northern Unity State, has become an “island surrounded by floodwaters,” continued Cheshirkov. “All roads in and out are impassable and only boats and the airstrip serve as lifelines for humanitarian aid.”

Camps for displaced people are below the current water level. Inhabitants are “working around the clock” with pumps, buckets, excavators, and heavy machinery to keep the water at bay and prevent dikes that have been constructed from collapsing, he said.

South Sudan has received less than half of the US$215 million the UNHCR says it needs this year. An estimated 2.2 million people are displaced within the country as a result of the flooding and conflict that has plagued the world’s newest country, which declared independence in 2011. 

“The threat [is] of worse to come as the climate crisis accelerates,” said Cheshirkov. 

Beyond South Sudan, the UNHCR has warned of “surging needs” for more than 3.4 million displaced people following destructive flooding in Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Cameroon. In the Horn of Africa, Somalia is meanwhile teetering on the precipice of famine following a historic drought that has displaced more than a million people. 

A recent report warned that Africa is receiving a fraction of the finance it needs to reduce emissions and adapt to global warming.

Image credit: UNHCR/Charlotte Hallqvist

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Flooding in Nigeria Causes Mass Displacement, Health Risks and Food Insecurity

29 October 2022 – by Darina Kalamova

Flooding is a prevalent natural disaster in Nigeria, but it is rarely as devastating as it has been in 2022. In fact, this year’s floods have been the worst ones in the last 12 years and so far they have caused the deaths of more than 600 people. 1.4 million people have been displaced and thousands of hectares of farmland have been submerged. People have lost their homes and livelihoods, and many are in need of shelter and food.

The crisis is further exacerbated by the fact that the country’s northern region is embroiled in a regional conflict. Thousands of Nigerians were already living in camps for displaced persons because of it and now those camps are being destroyed by the water. 

Authorities blame the tragedy on the hefty rainy season aggravated by climate change and the discharge of excess water from the Lagdo dam.  However, several other factors should also be taken into account, including the country’s land use plan, its disaster management, and the lack of investment in climate infrastructure. 

The government is calling on state and local government councils to increase their efforts and continue to evacuate people who live on floodplains as there is still a danger of further flooding. In fact, some Nigerian States will remain at risk until the end of November and some inland water reservoirs are expected to continue overflowing, endangering the communities living alongside the rivers Niger and Benue.

There are concerns about the spread of diseases due to the water contamination caused by flooding. In fact, an increase in cholera and other preventable diseases has already been reported. Several rice-producing states in northern and central Nigeria, where the conflict has already been threatening food production, are now also being affected by the floods. This is straining the country’s food stability and according to data from UNICEF, more than two million people are at risk of waterborne diseases and malnutrition. 

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New Project to Help Those Displaced by Somalia Crisis

27 October 2022 – by Cosmo Sanderson

As Somalia teeters on the edge of a famine that could cause a rate of child death not seen in half a century, a new project has been launched to provide emergency relief to those displaced by the crisis.  

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced on 18 October that a new US$20 million project had launched to tackle the pressing needs of 71,000 displaced and vulnerable people affected by the historic drought. 

Over a million people have been displaced in Somalia since January 2021, which marked the start of a drought now stretching across four failed rainy seasons. A failed fifth rainy season is thought to be likely, as is a rare formal declaration of famine. The crisis has been driven by global warming. 

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that half a million children are at risk of dying from malnutrition. “Without greater action and investment, we are facing the death of children on a scale not seen in half a century,” said spokesperson James Elder. 

The IOM is partnering with the World Bank and the Somalian government on the new project, which will provide emergency relief and enhance abilities to recover and adapt through long-term housing solutions and infrastructure development.

“The project comes at a critical time as the most severe drought in four decades pushes millions of people further into poverty, starvation and displacement, with thousands at risk of eviction,” said Ewa Naqvi, IOM deputy chief of mission in Somalia.

Many Somalis that have left rural areas are living in informal settlements on the outskirts of cities where they face “fear and intimidation,” says the IOM, with a high risk of forced evictions. 

Ismail Abdirahman Sheikh Bashir of Somalia’s Ministry of Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing said the project would “urgently address the water, sanitation, shelter, health and nutritional needs of drought-affected families.”

Image credit: Flickr/Ivan Radic

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The Democratic Republic of Congo auctions land for oil drilling in the Congo Basin

white bird beside body of water

19 September 2022 – by Ella Kiyomi Dobson

The Congo Basin is the second largest old-growth rainforest and is set in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In May, DRC released a statement online suggesting that they are accepting offers on blocks of land for oil and gas exploration projects in the Congo Basin to bolster its economy. The number of parcels of land up for grabs was increased from 16 to 30 at the end of July when the auction began. 

Oil and gas are at the forefront of global issues right now. At the end of 2021, global leaders joined at COP26 to agree to protect the Congo Basin with international pledges of $500 million. Within a few months, however, many global leaders have shifted their climate attitudes, particularly on oil and gas, due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. The President of the DRC, Felix Tshisekedi, and other leaders of African countries have expressed that there remains a double standard for oil and gas. Western nations have built their wealth from exploiting fossil fuels; why should they have to forego their reserves to protect everyone else? 

While President Tshisekedi and the DRC government argue that new oil and gas fields would boost DRC’s economy, empirical observations in high-yield oil-producing African nations suggest only a small fraction of the population would reap the benefits. Currently, DRC is a large player in the mining of cobalt, copper, gold, and diamonds. While these have high economic returns, the country remains deeply impoverished due to mismanagement and corruption. Looking at these realities, the Congolese people would unlikely see any financial benefits from further environmental exploitation.

The environmental damages that exploration and drilling of oil and gas in the Congo Basin could be a tipping point for the global environment. The proposed bidding lands are crucial areas like swamps and peatlands that have a high environmental value. Astoundingly, peat/wetlands only comprise around 3% of the globe’s surface, yet they hold over 30% of soil stored carbon. The infrastructure required to explore and drill in these areas would release billions of tons of stored carbon into the atmosphere due to the draining process necessary for drilling. 

After the auction began in mid-august, the hydrocarbons minister for DRC announced that they would accept bids from carbon credit and cryptocurrency companies as opposed to purely oil and gas companies. These companies would not be looking to drill but, rather, promisingly, sell carbon credits for carbon offsetting. In theory, this structure would return the capital generated to local communities and the government in exchange for protecting the areas. There is much scepticism about whether the carbon offsetting market will bring sufficient cash flow to match the economic outputs of oil. However, if these companies successfully win the blocks of land, this would be more financially and environmentally sustainable for the DRC. Success in this endeavour may also encourage other countries to adopt a similar approach to environmental preservation, so long as they can afford to do so.

Finding alternative means like this to support countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo will be a pivotal example for other countries hoping to move away from oil and gas dependence. In addition, efforts like this may allow for a just transition to renewable energy which will be an essential means of protection for both people and the planet. 

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Record Levels of Displacement and Famine Warnings in Somalia as Drought Continues

12 September 2022 – Darina Kalamova

One million people have been internally displaced in Somalia since January 2021 when an unprecedented drought began. The Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Adam Abdelmoulа, stated that more than seven million people – nearly half of Somalia’s population – will experience its effects by the end of 2022. 

What is Happening?

Food prices have risen sharply and many people cannot afford essential products such as water and wheat. More than three million animals, crucial to Somalia’s economy, have died and crop production has substantially dropped due to low levels of precipitation.

This has forced many people living in rural areas to leave their homes behind and seek refuge in urban regions and displaced persons camps. In fact, after another failed growing season, a spike in displacement was recorded in June and July 2022.

Famine Warnings 

Experts are concerned that a fifth failed rainy season is very likely. This, in combination with the loss of livelihood, is increasing the possibility of famine and health risks for the population. 213,000 Somalis are reported to be living in famine-like conditions with no access to basic necessities.

Children are most vulnerable because malnutrition can reduce their physical and mental development. Heartbreaking data shows that around 1.5 million children under the age of 5 face acute malnutrition, with over 380,000 likely to experience severe malnourishment. According to the UN Children’s fund, drought-related malnutrition has already led to the deaths of 500 children.

The UN humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths, warned that two districts of Somalia are in imminent danger of famine and thousands are at risk of losing their lives. He stressed the urgency of the situation and compared the current disaster to the famine of 2010-2011 when more than 200,000 people died. He called for more humanitarian aid and additional funding for the affected areas.

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COP27: An Opportunity for Egypt

white and blue boat on water near city buildings during daytime

25 August 2022 – by Ottoline Mary

A recent article from Arab News offers some insights on the 2022 edition of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, commonly referred to as COP27, which will take place in Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt) in November.

The upcoming summit represents an opportunity to raise awareness of the climate-related issues encountered by the MENA region, whose interests are often dismissed in global decision-making.

For example, during the 56th session of the Bonn Climate Change Conference that took place two months ago, a coalition of developing country representatives suggested that mitigating the devastating impacts of climate change throughout the Global South could be facilitated by implementing a Global North-funded international mechanism. However, despite wealthy nations being the main contributors to global warming, the initiative was rejected by the EU.

In addition, the event is providing Egypt with an incentive to address its own national climate challenges. For example, the high levels of pollution (especially in Cairo) are affecting air quality and, thus, causing health problems amongst at least 2 million residents each year.

After seven years of negotiations, the overall stake of COP27 is to prompt the implementation of the Paris Agreement at each country’s national level. As phrased by Zitouni Ould-Dada, deputy director of the FAO’s Climate and Environment Division, “the costs of inaction would be higher than the costs of action”.

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Africa Getting a Fraction of the Finance it Needs to Fight Global Warming

17 August 2022 – by Cosmo Sanderson

A new report has revealed that Africa is receiving just 12% of the finance it needs to reduce emissions and adapt to global warming.

Africa needs an average of US$250 billion in climate finance annually from 2020-2030, according to a report released last week by Climate Policy Initiative, but received just US$29.5 billion in 2020.

The San Francisco-headquartered think tank says this falls “dramatically short” of what African countries need to implement their Nationally Determined Contributions, the commitments made by states in the Paris Agreement to cut emissions and adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis.

“Africa is the region that is both least responsible for the climate crisis and among the most vulnerable to its consequences,” says the report.

“It is crucial that sufficient capital is deployed in the continent to simultaneously support economic development, mitigate further environmental degradation, and help the population adapt and build resilience to the changing climate.”

The report says this will require significantly higher levels of investment, especially from the private sector. Due to “real and perceived risks” associated with investing in Africa, the private sector has so far played a “marginal role” in providing climate finance for the continent.

Africa currently accounts for just 3% of global emissions, despite housing almost a fifth of the world’s population according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organisation.

Global warming is already disproportionately affecting Africans, the IEA says, including through including water stress and increasingly frequent extreme weather events. These effects are in turn fuelling regional instability and mass migration.

A report last year by the World Meteorological Organization warned that Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly likely to suffer “climate conflicts” resulting from climate-induced political instability.