One in Eight Children Affected by Extreme Weather Events in 2024
A report by Save the Children reveals that one in eight children globally has been severely affected by ten extreme weather events in 2024. These children have been forced to flee their homes, depend on aid, or miss school. As COP29 approaches, the organization emphasizes the critical need for world leaders to prioritize children’s rights and voices in climate discussions to ensure their protection and future.
Approximately one in eight children worldwide has experienced significant impacts from the ten most severe extreme weather events of 2024, according to a report from Save the Children. These events have resulted in children fleeing their homes, relying on humanitarian aid, and being unable to attend school. As leaders prepare for the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan, it has been revealed that around 300 million children across Asia, Africa, and Brazil, accounting for approximately 12.5% of the global child population of 2.4 billion, have been affected by these crises. Extreme weather events this year include Tropical Storm Trami in the Philippines, which displaced 19.5 million children, and a record drought in Southern Africa impacting 12.2 million children, verified by the UN. Flooding in West and Central Africa has affected 10 million children, while a heatwave across South Asia has caused school closures for 256 million children. Additionally, Typhoon Yagi added 1.5 million children to the figures requiring humanitarian aid. Other areas, including Bangladesh, the Horn of Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, have also reported distressing impacts on children due to catastrophic flooding and climate-related events. The trend of increasing extreme weather events parallels the rise in global temperatures attributed to climate change, with the World Meteorological Organization noting a five-fold increase in such occurrences over the last fifty years. Save the Children urges that the urgent needs of children be prioritized during climate discussions at COP29, emphasizing their unique vulnerabilities and the necessity for integrating their voices into climate action as the majority of affected children reside in low- and middle-income regions. Personal testimonies illustrate the real ramifications of these disasters. Kyariyam, a 12-year-old from Nigeria, poignantly described the destruction caused by recent floods, stating: “The flood destroyed everything in our home […] It washed away our clothes, school uniforms, and books. It’s something I will never forget.” Meanwhile, 14-year-old Zinhle from Zimbabwe lamented the food shortages resulting from drought and the implications for her education, expressing that “if we drop out of school, we won’t have a good future.” Inger Ashing, CEO of Save the Children International, emphasized the urgency of addressing the current climate crisis, declaring, “This is not just a climate crisis, it’s a child rights crisis – and urgent action from world leaders is non-negotiable.”
The extreme weather events observed in 2024 have disproportionately affected children, highlighting the urgency of addressing climate change’s impact on vulnerable populations. As climate change escalates the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, organizations like Save the Children stress the need for global leaders to prioritize the rights and needs of children at the upcoming COP29 summit. Children from low- and middle-income countries are particularly at risk, making their voices critical in discussions regarding climate finance and humanitarian assistance.
In summary, the overwhelming impact of extreme weather events on children in 2024 underscores the vital need for immediate action and commitment from world leaders. Save the Children emphasizes that climate change presents not just environmental challenges, but significant threats to children’s rights and futures. By centering discussions around children’s experiences and needs at COP29, there is an opportunity to shape effective climate policies that protect this vulnerable demographic from the ongoing crises fostered by climate change.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
