Climate change displaces 38,000 in Afghanistan

KABUL (Pajhwok): Climate change-induced extreme weather has forced at least 38,000 people, half of them children, from their homes in Afghanistan in the first half of the current  year.

This figure exceeds the total number of displaced individuals recorded in 2023, according to Save the Children.

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) reports droughts, extreme temperatures, floods, landslides, avalanches and storms have caused more displacements this year.

While IDMC does not provide specific breakdowns for children displaced within a given year, it is noted they make up about half of those displaced.

By the end of 2023, Afghanistan had the highest number of children made homeless by climate disasters globally, totalling 747,094.

Historically, conflict has driven most displacements in Afghanistan, but climate disasters overtook war as the leading cause of internal dislocation in 2022.

Droughts are the primary driver of these climate-induced displacements. Currently, one in seven Afghans faces long-term displacement -- the highest in South Asia and the second highest globally.

Afghanistan ranks as the sixth most vulnerable country to climate change impacts and is among the least equipped to handle these challenges.

Over a third of the population is experiencing crisis levels of hunger, exacerbated by climate shocks and high food prices.

Twenty-five out of 34 provinces are experiencing severe or catastrophic drought conditions affecting more than half the population.

In May 2024, excessive rainfall and subsequent flooding affected over 83,000 people, with the western region experiencing the most severe impact, as reported by OCHA on X.

sa/mud