What challenges do people face?

Our changing climate is creating an unprecedented need for emergency shelter around the world. Weather is becoming more extreme with severe storms, destructive floods and scorching droughts. Every day more people are becoming displaced. By 2050, a billion people will have lost their homes to disaster. 

People bearing the brunt of the climate crisis are often those that contribute least to it. This includes communities in countries such as Somalia. People here have very low carbon emissions, but are faced with a cycle of struggling with drought and flash flooding made worse by the climate crisis. Yet world leaders are not investing in preparation for or rebuilding after disaster. 

Some people have already been forced to become climate migrants – moving due to the changing climate. This is happening in places like Somalia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines, and more. Communities who used to live on the land have had to move after climate change destroyed their livelihoods. 

By supporting our work, you can make a difference in the lives of people without shelter due to the climate crisis. 

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What is the impact on different types of disasters?

We respond to a range of disasters and conflicts. Some of these disasters can be more severe due to the climate crisis. Discover more about the impact on different types of weather events and the disasters they can cause below.

Storms

While not becoming more frequent, scientists do think storms are increasing in intensity. We are seeing more Category 4 and 5 storms – the most damaging. Storms can lead to other disaster such as flooding and landslides. Scientists said that Storm Daniel that caused catastrophic flooding in Libya in 2023 would have been unlikely to occur without climate change. 

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Floods

With climate patterns changing, some areas are seeing more intense rainfall. This can lead to flooding. Floods can destroy homes and livelihoods. They can also contaminate water supplies, leading to health risks. The heavier than usual monsoon rains that caused severe flooding in Pakistan in 2022 have been linked to climate change.

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Droughts

Warming temperatures make droughts more likely. The Horn of Africa has seen many years of drought. It is impacting countries like Ethiopia and Somalia. Droughts can lead to wildfires. They can also contribute to flash flooding as when rain does fall the ground is too hard to soak it up.

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Heatwaves

Increasing temperatures also make heatwaves more likely. Intense heat is a great danger to human health. Prolonged periods of heat can also lead to droughts and wildfires. 

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Wildfires

In prolonged periods without rain, areas of vegetation can dry out. This makes them extremely vulnerable to wildfires. A small spark can destroy acres of vegetation, devastating livelihoods and risking lives.  

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Landslides

Both heavy rainfall and drought conditions can trigger landslides. We have responded to landslides several times that followed storms and flooding. Wildfires that destroy vegetation also make landslides more likely. 

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Other crises

The climate crisis can contribute to other crises too. Where droughts or floods have destroyed crops this increases competition for resources. This can lead to conflict, or make existing conflicts worse. And people forced from their homes by conflict or events like earthquakes can find their situation made worse by the changing climate. For example, those displaced by the conflict in Yemen found that some tents did not last long in Yemen’s harsh climate. And people displaced by Boko Haram violence in Cameroon have suffered with extreme heat and a lack of water. 

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Jimcale had to move to Baidoa Camp in Somalia after drought destroyed his livelihood
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Experiences of the climate crisis

We’re hearing from the people we support just how much the climate crisis is impacting them.  

In my many years on this earth, I have seen changes in the climate. The rain is sometimes too much, sometimes not enough. Crops have become unpredictable, leading to empty stomachs sometimes. The change in the climate completely turned our world upside down and forced me and my family to leave behind the life we knew. We became displaced, chasing safety from the chaos it brought and now in my old age I am left to find my stability again.  

Jimcale, displaced by the drought in Somalia 

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Mohammed and one of his children. The family lost their home in the 2022 flooding in Pakistan.
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There were floods in 2010 but it did not affect as much as these floods, a vast number of livelihoods were lost, livestock and even human lives.

There has been a huge change in the weather, sometimes it is extremely hot and on the other hand heavy rain which results in flooding.

Mohammed. He and his family lost their home in the 2022 Monsoon flooding in Pakistan.

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Patrick Buleban outside his home in Vatsari village, South Pentecost.
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You would think that the cyclones would just come in the cyclone season, but now when we talk about climate change, the cyclones are coming at a times when you don’t think they will come. It’s not the cyclone season but a cyclone will come.

Patrick, whose livelihood was destroyed by Cyclone Harold on Vanuatu 

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It’s vital we act now

Working on the frontline, we can help the most vulnerable people survive in the aftermath of extreme weather events. We preposition aid around the world so we can respond quickly to disasters. But we need to replenish our stocks of aid constantly so we can be prepared for the next disaster. 

That’s why we need your help now. So we can be ready to give people the life-changing support they need, when they need it. Shelter kits to repair homes ravaged by storms. Tents or more durable shelters to give homes to people forced to leave everything behind. And household items that help families cook and spend time together.