Climate catastrophes in Afghanistan: cause of flight No. 1 in 2023

Climate catastrophes in Afghanistan: cause of flight No. 1 in 2023

in Afghanistan, the humanitarian crisis has been acute by extreme weather events, with the number of internal displaced people achieving an alarming level in the first half of 2023. According to Save the Children, there were at least 38,000 people by the end of June who were forced to leave their homes due to drought and other climatic disasters.

climate change as the cause of the escape

The reports of Save the Children clarify that the climate crisis in Afghanistan plays a central role as the cause of flight. In a country that suffers from the late consequences of decades of conflicts, extreme weather phenomena such as drought and floods have profound effects on the quality of life of the population. "The climate crisis tightens the humanitarian emergency situation in Afghanistan," explains Florian Westphal, managing director of Save the Children Germany.

Dürren as a constant threat

Scientific forecasts indicate that the pressure will stop by the drought in the country. Shockingly, newborn Afghans are confronted with drought five times more often over the course of their lives than in the past 60 years. According to the United Nations, around 25 of the 34 provinces of the country are affected by severe or catastrophic drought, which further deteriorates the already difficult life situation of the population.

long -term social consequences

The effects of the climate events are not only shown in the acute escape movement, but also in the long term. Families are forced to move to other districts to find work, and children sometimes have to take hours long to get water instead of going to school. These circumstances threaten the educational opportunities of future generations and social cohesion in the country.

Afghanistan's precarious location in the global context

Although Afghanistan is one of the countries that suffer the most suffering from the direct effects of climate change, it has only contributed slightly to the global emissions. This injustice presents the country with additional challenges because it does not have the necessary infrastructure and resources in order to adapt to the changed climatic conditions. The need for effective support measures is therefore more urgent than ever to improve the humanitarian situation within the country.

Afghanistan faces a huge challenge that not only requires local but also international support. The global changes in relation to the climate and the associated humanitarian emergency situations require a rethink in the international community to help affected people in Afghanistan and create the foundations for a sustainable future.