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UNHCR Warns of Mass Displacement in East Africa Due to El Niño-Induced Flooding

UNHCR Warns of Mass Displacement in East Africa Due to El Niño-Induced Flooding

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued a warning that a powerful El Niño weather pattern could lead to severe flooding in East Africa, potentially displacing up to three million people by the end of 2026. Countries at high risk include Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda. This forecast comes as part of a broader report highlighting that nearly 90 million forcibly displaced individuals globally reside in regions increasingly vulnerable to climate-related hazards such as droughts, floods, and extreme heat. The UNHCR emphasizes the critical overlap between conflict, displacement, and climate change, noting that climate adaptation in fragile and displacement-affected areas is essential for survival. The agency also points out that only about 10 percent of climate finance currently reaches these vulnerable countries, underscoring a significant funding gap.

UNHCR Warns of Mass Displacement in East Africa Due to Severe Flooding by 2026

UNHCR Warns of Mass Displacement in East Africa Due to Severe Flooding by 2026

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued a warning that severe flooding in East Africa could displace up to three million people in Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda by the end of 2026. This projection is part of a broader report highlighting that nearly 90 million forcibly displaced individuals globally are living in countries highly exposed to climate-related risks, including droughts, floods, and extreme heat. The agency noted that an exceptionally strong El Niño phenomenon is expected to intensify these climate-related threats, potentially triggering further displacement. The report, released ahead of the COP31 climate summit, emphasizes the growing overlap between armed conflict, forced displacement, and climate change, urging increased support for adaptation measures in vulnerable regions. Only about 10% of climate finance currently reaches fragile or conflict-affected countries, exacerbating the challenges faced by these populations.

UN Refugee Agency Warns 90 Million Displaced People at Risk from Climate Threats Ahead of COP31

UN Refugee Agency Warns 90 Million Displaced People at Risk from Climate Threats Ahead of COP31

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has issued a stark warning that nearly 90 million forcibly displaced people are living in countries increasingly exposed to climate-related droughts, floods, and extreme heat. This announcement comes ahead of the COP31 climate summit in Antalya, Turkey. According to the UNHCR report, approximately three-quarters of the world's forcibly displaced individuals reside in nations like Afghanistan and Bangladesh, which face severe climate-related risks. Anton Leis Garcia, UNHCR's assistant high commissioner for operations, emphasized that 'climate adaptation in fragile and displacement-affected areas is a matter of survival' and called for increased climate financing to reach the most vulnerable communities. The report highlights the interconnectedness of conflict, displacement, and climate change, noting that climate change is also impeding the sustainable return of displaced people to their homes. In East Africa, severe flooding, potentially exacerbated by a supersized El Niño, co...

South Sudan Government Plans 94km Dyke to Protect Flood-Prone Jonglei Communities

South Sudan Government Plans 94km Dyke to Protect Flood-Prone Jonglei Communities

The government of South Sudan is moving forward with plans to construct a 94-kilometer flood-protection dyke between Bor South and Twic East counties in Jonglei State. This initiative aims to shield communities from recurring floods while ensuring continued access to water and safeguarding local livelihoods. Undersecretary in the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, Sultan Lam Tungwar Kueigwong, emphasized that the dyke is designed to be environmentally and animal-friendly, incorporating multiple culverts and dedicated wildlife crossings. Jonglei's location within the Sudd, a vast, low-lying floodplain, makes it particularly susceptible to inundation, with even minor increases in river levels leading to widespread flooding. Lam stated that this is not a temporary issue but a permanent shift in the baseline, requiring calibrated engineering solutions. The United Nations reports that floods have impacted an estimated 1,024,500 people across 29 counties in six states in South Sudan, displacing nearly 3...

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Urges Increased Investment in Climate Adaptation Ahead of UN Conference

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Urges Increased Investment in Climate Adaptation Ahead of UN Conference

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has called on global leaders attending the United Nations climate conference in Turkiye to significantly boost investment in protecting vulnerable populations from the humanitarian impacts of climate change. The IFRC emphasized that climate change is intensifying extreme weather events such as heatwaves, floods, droughts, and storms, which pose severe threats to lives, livelihoods, and public health. With an exceptionally strong El Nino expected to exacerbate extreme weather conditions this year, the organization stressed the critical need for increased investment in preparedness and adaptation measures. The IFRC cited the recent devastating floods in Nepal as an example of both the humanitarian risks and the life-saving potential of preparedness, highlighting how disaster preparedness training provided by the Nepal Red Cross enabled a school principal to evacuate hundreds of students to safety before a flash flood struck.

From fleeing conflict-hit Congo to the Youth Olympics, teenager makes history with dad as coach

From fleeing conflict-hit Congo to the Youth Olympics, teenager makes history with dad as coach

Arno Yafunga is part of the first refugee team to compete at the Youth Olympic Games

COP31 to Prioritize Equitable Fossil Fuel Transitions and Climate Finance Amidst Accelerating Climate Crisis

COP31 to Prioritize Equitable Fossil Fuel Transitions and Climate Finance Amidst Accelerating Climate Crisis

COP31, the United Nations climate change conference, is set to be a critical juncture for translating climate pledges into tangible action, with a shared-leadership model between Türkiye and Australia. The conference will prioritize equitable fossil fuel transitions, post-2020 climate finance, and global urban resilience. Key findings released ahead of the event indicate record-high greenhouse gas levels in 2025 and disproportionate carbon emissions from the wealthiest 0.1% of humanity. Despite these alarming statistics, COP29 and COP30 failed to secure binding phase-out agreements for fossil fuels or sufficient capital for the Global South. Murat Kurum, Türkiye's Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change and President-Designate for COP31, has positioned the event as a vital transition phase, emphasizing the 1.5-degree goal as a 'matter of survival.' Australia, co-hosting the event, aims to reposition itself as a clean energy superpower and amplify the voices of climate-vulnerable communitie...

COP31 Conference Emphasizes Human Rights as Central to Climate Action Amidst Global Disasters

COP31 Conference Emphasizes Human Rights as Central to Climate Action Amidst Global Disasters

The 31st United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP31) in Turkey is set to prioritize human rights as a core component of climate action, following a summer marked by devastating climate disasters globally. Catastrophic flash floods in Nepal, record-breaking heat, and widespread wildfires in Oceania and North America have underscored the severe threats to lives, human rights, and nature posed by even minimal exceedances of the 1.5-degree temperature limit of the Paris Agreement. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) is urging parties at COP31 to fulfill their obligations under the Paris Agreement by integrating human rights into all decisions, from the transition away from fossil fuels to electrification and finance targets. The conference aims to accelerate climate action to return to below 1.5 degrees, recognizing that those least responsible for historical emissions often suffer the most from climate impacts.

Somalia’s top court rules president’s term extension is unlawful, deepening power struggle

Somalia’s top court rules president’s term extension is unlawful, deepening power struggle

Somalia’s power struggle has deepened after its Supreme Court ruled that the president’s term had expired and ordered elections within 90 days

El Niño Intensifies Typhoon Activity in East Asia, Raising Regional Concerns

El Niño Intensifies Typhoon Activity in East Asia, Raising Regional Concerns

East Asia is experiencing an extraordinary wave of intense and unpredictable typhoons, exacerbated by the El Niño weather pattern. This phenomenon has led to record-high ocean temperatures in the Pacific, which is described as 'burning with fever' by Ana Liza Solis, head of climatology at the Philippines' national weather bureau. The Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) metric, which measures the total intensity of a season's storms, is forecast to be nearly double the 30-year average for Southeast and East Asia this year. El Niño is also altering wind patterns, causing typhoons to form further east and gain strength by remaining over warm waters for longer periods. For instance, Typhoon Champi, equivalent to a category five hurricane with 295km/h winds, approached Taiwan in October, causing widespread disruption and flight cancellations across Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan. Another example is Typhoon Chan-Hom in August, which crossed Japan from east to west, an unusual trajectory. These storms have resulted in...

Oxfam International Seeks WE-CARE Programme Manager for Africa Region, Focusing on Gender Justice

Oxfam International Seeks WE-CARE Programme Manager for Africa Region, Focusing on Gender Justice

Oxfam International is inviting applications for the position of WE-CARE Programme Manager within its Africa program. This role is a fixed-term contract for one year and is flexible in terms of location within the Africa Region, with a preference for Southern Africa or Kenya. The successful candidate must already possess the legal right to work in their chosen location, as Oxfam International cannot guarantee work permits or relocation support. The WE-CARE Programme Manager will be responsible for leading the implementation of Oxfam in Africa's WE-CARE strategy, which focuses on unpaid care and domestic work, gender justice, women's rights, care-responsive public services, and social protection. Key responsibilities include overseeing program implementation, engaging with donors like the Hewlett Foundation, building partnerships with Women's Rights Organizations, and influencing policy and advocacy across several African countries, including Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia. The application deadline i...

Action Against Hunger Warns of Severe Flooding in Horn of Africa Due to El Niño, Urges Early Action

Action Against Hunger Warns of Severe Flooding in Horn of Africa Due to El Niño, Urges Early Action

A new report from Action Against Hunger and its partners indicates that a strengthening El Niño is expected to bring heavier-than-normal rains to the Greater Horn of Africa through the end of the year. This forecast puts millions of people in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Djibouti at high risk of severe flooding. The report, titled “El Niño Preparedness & Response Situation Update,” details the latest weather predictions, identifies the most vulnerable areas, and outlines necessary preparedness and readiness activities. The Institutionalizing Interoperable Multi-Hazard Preparedness and Anticipatory Action (IMPAACT) program, led by Action Against Hunger and funded by the European Commission, produced this report. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s (IGAD) Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) forecasts up to a 90% chance of above-average rainfall in southern Ethiopia and central and southern Somalia between October and December. This is driven by El Niño and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole...