Climate Change: Coping with the Humanitarian Impact

Growing Vulnerability

The 2007 floods in Mozambique have hit some of the poorest and most isolated communities in the country.  This young girl and her family is being resettled in Baue Center. [Photo:UNICEF/Thierry Delvigne-Jean ]

Over the next twenty years, we can expect more and intense climatic hazards everywhere. Particularly at risk are those communities located in areas prone to floods, cyclones and drought. Suffering repeated climatic shocks depletes their resources and makes them reliant on external assistance.

Most vulnerable are people with insufficient assets or resources, who are less prepared or equipped to cope with major climate disruption. Many other factors influence individual vulnerability, such as HIV/AIDS, access to public services, environmental degradation, inadequate housing, conflict and insecurity.

"In the long run climate change is a massive threat to human development and in some place it is already undermining the international community’s effort to reduce extreme poverty”  - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Next: Finding Solutions