Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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November 10, 2025 Climate and environment
The world is rapidly descending into a new cycle of instability, where armed conflicts intersect with intensifying climate disasters. Millions of refugees, internally displaced persons, and residents of host communities are trapped in this dangerous situation, according to a report released today by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The authors warn that climate shocks don't just disrupt established ways of life – they deprive people of the opportunity to rebuild their lives after conflicts and trigger new waves of displacement.
By mid-2025, the number of people fleeing war, violence, and persecution will reach 117 million. Three-quarters of them ended up in countries most vulnerable to climate threats. According to UNHCR, over the past decade, natural disasters have displaced approximately 250 million people within their own countries. Floods in South Sudan and Brazil, record temperatures in Kenya and Pakistan, and severe water shortages in Chad and Ethiopia—extreme events are becoming the final straw for communities already living in a state of chronic instability.
"Extreme weather around the world is putting people's safety at risk. It's destroying homes, cutting off access to basic services, depriving people of their livelihoods, and forcing families – many of whom have already fled – to flee again," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.
"These are people who have already suffered great losses. Now they face further suffering—droughts, floods, sweltering heat. And yet, they lack the resources to begin rebuilding their lives," he added.
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In some regions, this isn't just hardship; it's a direct threat to survival. In flooded areas of Chad, refugees arriving from war-torn Sudan are forced to make do with less than 10 liters of water per day. This is several times lower than the norm. By 2050, it's predicted that refugees living in camps in the hottest areas will spend up to 200 days a year exposed to dangerous heat stress. The combination of extreme heat and high humidity makes some areas virtually uninhabitable.
Environmental problems only exacerbate the situation. New data show that three-quarters of Africa's land is subject to degradation, and more than half of refugee and internally displaced person settlements are located in areas with the highest environmental stress. This means less water, less food, and fewer livelihood opportunities. In some areas of the Sahel, the lack of such opportunities is driving people, seeing no other option, to join armed groups. Thus, environmental problems fuel the cycle of violence.
Meanwhile, countries hosting refugees receive only a quarter of the funding they need.
"Funding cuts severely limit our ability to protect refugees from the impacts of extreme weather. If we truly want stability, we need to invest in the areas where the situation is most dire. To prevent further displacement, climate finance must reach communities already living on the edge," Grandi emphasized.
Despite alarming trends, UNHCR emphasizes that solutions exist. Both displaced people and the communities hosting them must be part of national climate strategies and plans. With the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) kicking off today in Belém, Brazil, UNHCR is calling on governments, financial institutions, and international organizations to take concrete, long-term measures: integrating refugees into climate planning, investing in adaptation, and ensuring that climate funds reach the most vulnerable communities.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.