New York: The International Rescue Committee in its latest report “Emergency Watchlist 2023” flagged that the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance has skyrocketed in the last decade approaching 339.2 million currently versus the 81 million seen in 2014.
Climate change is among the key factors accelerating humanitarian emergencies, the IRC noted, despite the fact that the 20 countries on its emergency watchlist — like Haiti and Afghanistan contribute just 2 per cent to global CO2 emissions.
2022 has shown that the role of climate change in accelerating the global humanitarian crisis is undeniable,” the report noted.
Climate change will accelerate humanitarian crisis around the world in 2023, adding to the issues created by armed conflict and economic downturns, according to International Rescue Committee study.
It pointed to record-long periods of rains, which has “brought catastrophic food insecurity to Somalia and Ethiopia,” and killed thousands in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, food insecurity is already rife due to growing conflict as well as the economic crisis sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the coronavirus pandemic, it said. Donors are failing to respond proportionately,” the report said.
The gap between humanitarian needs and its financing has grown to a global deficit of $27 billion as of November 2022. The result is that communities affected by the crisis are unable to access the services they need to survive, recover and rebuild.”
The study — titled “Emergency Watchlist 2023 “ — also highlighted that the number of people forced to flee their homes has risen to more than 100 million today, up from 60 million in 2014, with Venezuela among the biggest drivers.
