The rescue team use a rope to rescue the children trapped in the middle of the stream when the floodwaters appear (Photo: baogialai.com.vn) Worldwide, weather-related disasters caused 43.1 million internaldisplacements of children in 44 countries over a six-year period – orapproximately 20,000 child displacements a day, per the Children Displaced in aChanging Climate, which is the first global analysis of the number of childrendriven from their homes during 2016-21 due to floods, storms, droughts andwildfires, and looks at projections for the next 30 years.
Floods and storms accounted for 40.9 million – or 95% – ofrecorded child displacements globally between 2016 and 2021, due in part tobetter reporting and more pre-emptive evacuations. Meanwhile, droughtstriggered more than 1.3 million internal displacements of children, whilewildfires triggered 810,000 child displacements.
According to the report, East Asia and Pacificexperienced an estimated 19 million child displacements linked toweather-related disasters between 2016 and 2021, representing more than 44% ofthe global total. Most displacements were triggered by floods, which led toover 12 million displacements, and storms, which led to over 6 milliondisplacements.
Vietnam, together with other countries in the region such asChina, the Philippines and Indonesia, is among the top ten countries thatrecorded the highest absolute numbers of child displacements, due to theexposure to extreme weather, large child populations and progress made on earlywarning and evacuation capacities.
Using a disaster displacement risk model developed by Internal DisplacementMonitoring Centre, the report projects riverine floods have the potential todisplace almost 96 million children over the next 30 years, based on currentclimate data, while cyclonic winds and storm surges have the potential todisplace 10.3 million and 7.2 million children respectively, over the sameperiod. With more frequent and more severe weather events as consequence ofchanging climate, the actual numbers will almost certainly be higher.
Given their large population, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, thePhilippines and China are also the five countries with the most predictedfuture displacements of children owing to all hazards combined (riverine flood,cyclones and storm surges, with floods being the hazard that triggers the mostchild displacements).
”Evidence from each of the disasters striking Vietnam confirms over and againthat children are highly exposed to the impacts of the climate crisis, not justtheir health but every aspect of their development is affected. It is essentialthat as the country makes the critical and urgent switch to green energy, thereare increased efforts and resources to create climate-resilient communitiesacross Vietnam,” said Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative to Vietnam.
Decisions to move can be forced and abrupt in the face ofdisaster, or as the result of pre-emptive evacuation, where lives may be savedbut many children still face the dangers and challenges that come with beinguprooted from their homes, often for extended periods.
Displacement, whether short-lived or protracted, can exacerbate climate-relatedrisks for children and their families. In the aftermath of a disaster, childrenmay become separated from their parents or caregivers, amplifying the risks ofexploitation, child trafficking, and abuse. It can also disrupt access toeducation, healthcare, and safe water and sanitation, exposing children tomalnutrition, disease, and inadequate immunisation.
“It is terrifying for any child when a ferocious wildfire, storm or floodbarrels into their community,” said UNICEF Executive Director CatherineRussell.
“For those who are forced to flee, the fear and impact can be especiallydevastating, with worry of whether they will return home, resume school, or beforced to move again. Moving may have saved their lives, but it’s also verydisruptive. As the impacts of climate change escalate, so too willclimate-driven movement. We have the tools and knowledge to respond to thisescalating challenge for children, but we are acting far too slowly. We need tostrengthen efforts to prepare communities, protect children at risk ofdisplacement, and support those already uprooted.”
According to UNICEF, there are practical, lifesaving steps that preparecommunities and build resilience in children and adults.
For example, school readiness approaches or construction of flood and droughtresistant water and sanitation systems. Preparedness work is done innon-emergency times, requiring each of the social sectors, education, healthand nutrition, water, social protection and child and women protection to buildresilience in the communities today, with plans for quick response when adisaster strikes.
“This includes ensuring that all children are immunised, wind-resistant tentsand life-saving nutrition products are stockpiled and ready to roll out.Reducing the risks from disasters is a whole of Government accountability, andwhen done well, is a consistent part of long-term strategies that aim to buildclimate-resilient communities,” Flowers added./.
VNA
