Latest news with #displacedpeople
Washington Post
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Cambodian migrant workers face an uncertain future as Thai border conflict drives them home
KAMRIENG, Cambodia — Hundreds of thousands of Cambodian migrant workers have been heading home from Thailand as the two countries work to keep a ceasefire in armed clashes along their border. Tensions between the countries have escalated due to disputes over pockets of land along their 800 kilometer (500 mile) border. A five-day clash in July left at least 43 people dead and displaced more than 260,000 in both Southeast Asian nations.
The Guardian
08-07-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
As the flood risk rises around the world, what can we do to adapt?
Deluges of water are washing away people, homes and livelihoods as extreme rains make rivers burst their banks and high seas help send storm tides surging over coastal walls. How dangerous is flooding – and what can we do to keep ourselves safe? Floods kill thousands of people each year. The direct death toll is orders of magnitude lower than that of the biggest environmental killers, such as hot weather and dirty air, but scientists are unsure just how big the indirect health burden is. The aftermath of a flood can be even more deadly than the deluge itself, as crops die and disease spreads. Floods also force vast numbers of people to flee. In 2024, fast-flowing waters displaced more than 19 million people around the world – a mix of precautionary evacuations and washed-away villages. The figure is about the equivalent of pushing every single person in Somalia, Florida or the Netherlands from their home. Disasters such as storms and floods have become less deadly in recent decades, as people have grown better at managing the risks, but the damage they do varies widely. A person in Somalia may receive no warnings at all before flash floods sweep away their loved ones; someone in Florida may be evacuated to safety but lack home insurance to rebuild their home; a person in the Netherlands may be so well protected by tidal parks and sponge cities that heavy rains may not even register as a threat. People who live in flood plains and on coasts – where much of global population growth has taken place – are particularly vulnerable. The burning of fossil fuels has heated the planet, increasing the risk of extreme rains that lead to floods around the world, particularly in Europe, most of Asia, central and eastern North America, and parts of South America, Africa and Australia. A well-established rule of physics is that warm air can hold more moisture – about 7% for every 1C – though whether it does so or not depends on how much water is available. When heavy rain does fall, clouds can unleash far more water. Perhaps surprisingly, a lack of water can also worsen floods, by drying out the ground. Hard, caked soil does not absorb water so it runs off and pools in lower-lying regions, allowing water levels to rise much faster than otherwise. Flooding is also affected by human factors such as the existence of flood defences and land use. Climate change makes coastal floods stronger by raising sea levels. The effect is so strong that by 2100, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has found, high tides that used to hit once a century will hit most of the world's coasts every single year. This hundredfold increase will take place even in optimistic scenarios for cutting pollution – and in many coastal cities will happen by the middle of the century. Floods destroy infrastructure such as bridges, roads and railways, as well as possessions such as homes and cars. They can also wipe out businesses and render offices, schools and hospitals unusable. When flash floods in 2023 struck Slovenia, a small but prosperous country in central Europe, they caused an estimated €10bn in damage, or about 16% of the country's GDP. In the US, floods are estimated to cause up to half a trillion dollars in direct asset losses each year. Globally, the biggest progress in saving lives has come from early warning systems that alert people to danger and help them escape before it strikes. This has proved particularly powerful in middle-income countries, where most people live, though it has a long way to go in the poorest parts of the world. Building dykes and retention basins can limit the damage from heavy rainfall. In cities, parks and other green spaces can also soak up rain before it turns into a flood. On coasts, sea walls can keep the waters out. But scientists warn there are limits to adaptation as the planet heats up. They increasingly talk about 'managed retreat' to permanently move people out of harm's way – a route that some communities around the world have already gone down. This can mean abandoning homes, towns and, in the case of small island states being submerged by the sea, entire countries.
The Guardian
08-07-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
As the flood risk rises around the world, what can we do to adapt?
Deluges of water are washing away people, homes and livelihoods as extreme rains make rivers burst their banks and high seas help send storm tides surging over coastal walls. How dangerous is flooding – and what can we do to keep ourselves safe? Floods kill thousands of people each year. The direct death toll is orders of magnitude lower than that of the biggest environmental killers, such as hot weather and dirty air, but scientists are unsure just how big the indirect health burden is. The aftermath of a flood can be even more deadly than the deluge itself, as crops die and disease spreads. Floods also force vast numbers of people to flee. In 2024, fast-flowing waters displaced more than 19 million people around the world – a mix of precautionary evacuations and washed-away villages. The figure is about the equivalent of pushing every single person in Somalia, Florida or the Netherlands from their home. Disasters such as storms and floods have become less deadly in recent decades, as people have grown better at managing the risks, but the damage they do varies widely. A person in Somalia may receive no warnings at all before flash floods sweep away their loved ones; someone in Florida may be evacuated to safety but lack home insurance to rebuild their home; a person in the Netherlands may be so well protected by tidal parks and sponge cities that heavy rains may not even register as a threat. People who live in flood plains and on coasts – where much of global population growth has taken place – are particularly vulnerable. The burning of fossil fuels has heated the planet, increasing the risk of extreme rains that lead to floods around the world, particularly in Europe, most of Asia, central and eastern North America, and parts of South America, Africa and Australia. A well-established rule of physics is that warm air can hold more moisture – about 7% for every 1C – though whether it does so or not depends on how much water is available. When heavy rain does fall, clouds can unleash far more water. Perhaps surprisingly, a lack of water can also worsen floods, by drying out the ground. Hard, caked soil does not absorb water so it runs off and pools in lower-lying regions, allowing water levels to rise much faster than otherwise. Flooding is also affected by human factors such as the existence of flood defences and land use. Climate change makes coastal floods stronger by raising sea levels. The effect is so strong that by 2100, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has found, high tides that used to hit once a century will hit most of the world's coasts every single year. This hundredfold increase will take place even in optimistic scenarios for cutting pollution – and in many coastal cities will happen by the middle of the century. Floods destroy infrastructure such as bridges, roads and railways, as well as possessions such as homes and cars. They can also wipe out businesses and render offices, schools and hospitals unusable. When flash floods in 2023 struck Slovenia, a small but prosperous country in central Europe, they caused an estimated €10bn in damage, or about 16% of the country's GDP. In the US, floods are estimated to cause up to half a trillion dollars in direct asset losses each year. Globally, the biggest progress in saving lives has come from early warning systems that alert people to danger and help them escape before it strikes. This has proved particularly powerful in middle-income countries, where most people live, though it has a long way to go in the poorest parts of the world. Building dykes and retention basins can limit the damage from heavy rainfall. In cities, parks and other green spaces can also soak up rain before it turns into a flood. On coasts, sea walls can keep the waters out. But scientists warn there are limits to adaptation as the planet heats up. They increasingly talk about 'managed retreat' to permanently move people out of harm's way – a route that some communities around the world have already gone down. This can mean abandoning homes, towns and, in the case of small island states being submerged by the sea, entire countries.
Al Jazeera
01-06-2025
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
Nigeria flash floods: Which is most affected area, what caused the deluge?
Flash floods triggered by heavy rains have devastated a central Nigerian state, killing at least 150 people and displacing thousands since Thursday, and rescue workers say the toll could rise. Search and rescue operations are ongoing as roads have been damaged and homes destroyed while bodies are believed to have been swept down the Niger River. Here is what to know about the floods and how prone Nigeria is to such events. Flash floods hit Mokwa, a market town located in Nigeria's north-central Niger State. It followed intense rainfall that began about 3am (02:00 GMT) on Thursday, according to the Nigerian Red Cross Society. Mokwa is a key meeting and transit point for traders from the south and food growers in the north. It is about 350km (217 miles) by road east of Nigeria's capital, Abuja. Mokwa has an estimated population of 400,000 while Niger is the country's fourth largest state by size, covering more area than Belgium or than 150 people have been confirmed killed while rescue teams continue to recover bodies and search for missing people. The actual death toll is likely higher as many victims are believed to have been swept down the Niger River, Al Jazeera's Ahmed Idris said, reporting from Mokwa. 'The usual thing is when an official tells you 151 are dead or missing, you are likely to multiply that by two, three or four,' he said. At least 3,018 people have been displaced, 265 houses destroyed and two bridges washed away in the floods, according to Ibrahim Audu Husseini, a spokesman for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency. Of those injured, 121 were in hospital, and more than 100 people were missing, Gideon Adamu, head of the Red Cross in Niger State, told the AFP news agency on Saturday. 'We can't give up the search as long as there are families crying out,' Adamu said. Farida Auwalu, the lone survivor from a family of 16, lost seven children in the deluge. The bodies of four of Farida's children have been found and buried. 'My hope is to see the remaining bodies and give them a decent burial and have closure,' she told Al Jazeera. Experts said the frequency and severity of floods in Nigeria have increased due to climate change, unregulated construction and poor drainage infrastructure. Mokwa residents also believe the flooding was caused by 'a bigger problem upstream, maybe a dam burst, but up to now, officials are not confirming that', Idris said. Niger State has three major dams – Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro – while a fourth is under construction. Despite flood risks being identified, there has been a lack of political will to implement the solutions for them, according to Ugonna Nkwunonwo, a flood risk analyst at the University of Nigeria. 'The amount of rain you expect in a year could probably come in one or two months, and people are not prepared for that kind of rainfall,' he told Al Jazeera. Many areas in the country lack proper drainage systems, and existing ones are often clogged with waste, causing water to accumulate on the streets during heavy rains. Additionally, rapid urban development without proper planning has led to the construction of buildings in flood-prone areas, reducing the land's natural ability to absorb water. Deforestation for agriculture and development further reduces the land's capacity to soak up rainfall, increasing the flow of water over the land. Local leaders and residents are calling for state and federal authorities to intervene with long-term support and infrastructure to rebuild their communities and protect them from flooding. 'Warnings have been put out by authorities for people exposed or communities living along river banks to move to higher ground, especially when the rains start to peak, but every year, we continue to see more and more lives and property damaged because of rainfall,' Idris said. Emergency services – including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, the Nigerian Red Cross and local volunteers – are engaged in search and rescue operations. President Bola Tinubu has also ordered an emergency response, including the provision of aid and temporary shelter. 'Search-and-rescue operations are ongoing, and all relevant federal agencies have been mobilised to support the state government's efforts,' Tinubu wrote in a social media post on Saturday. However, damaged roads and bridges have complicated rescue and recovery efforts. Some flood survivors are struggling to get basic aid. 'No one brought any money or food to help the victims. As you can see, many don't have a place to sleep,' Hassan Umar told Al Jazeera in Mokwa. A key bridge that connects the northern and southwestern parts of the country collapsed, leaving motorists stranded and disrupting movement of vehicles across the region. In September, severe flooding in the northwestern city of Maiduguri in Borno State submerged two-thirds of the city, killed at least 30 people and displaced nearly half a million. More than 200 inmates also escaped from a flood-damaged prison. The disaster was triggered by weeks of intense rainfall and the collapse of the Alau dam in northeastern Nigeria. Across the country in 2024, flooding killed more than 1,200 people and displaced 1.2 million in at least 31 of 36 states, according to NEMA. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has warned of possible flash floods in 15 of Nigeria's 36 states, including Niger, from Wednesday to Friday. In the south, low-lying states like Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta in the Niger Delta region experience frequent flooding due to their coastal locations. In the north, Kogi, Benue and Borno states are also prone to floods because they are on major rivers. The country's rainy season typically begins in April to mid-May and lasts through October while August is the wettest month. Heavy rainfall during this period causes problems every year because it destroys infrastructure and is exacerbated by inadequate drainage. Although flooding is common during Nigeria's rainy season, now is not the peak of the rains, Idris said. 'In some states, the rains have only been there for a month, and yet we're seeing this.'
The Herald
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
Israeli strike kills 20 in Gaza school housing displaced people, health authorities say
An Israeli strike on a school housing displaced people in Gaza killed at least 20 people and injured dozens, local authorities told Reuters early on Monday. Israel stepped up its military operations in the enclave in early May, saying it is seeking to eliminate Hamas' military and governing capabilities and bring back the remaining hostages who were seized in October 2023. Medics said the dozens of casualties in the strike on the school, in the Daraj neighbourhood of Gaza City, included women and children. Some of the bodies were badly burnt according to images circulating on social media, which could not immediately be verified. The Israeli military said on Monday Israeli forces struck a Hamas control centre overnight on Sunday in Gaza, targeting a facility used to 'plan and gather intelligence to execute terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops'. Despite mounting international pressure that pushed Israel to lift a blockade on aid supplies in the face of warnings of looming famine, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last week Israel would control the whole of Gaza. Israel has taken control of about 77% of the enclave through its ground forces or evacuation orders and bombardments that keep residents away from their homes, Gaza's media office said. The Israeli campaign, triggered after Hamas Islamist militants attacked Israeli communities on October 7 2023, killing about 1,200 people, has devastated Gaza and pushed nearly all of its two-million residents from their homes. The offensive has killed more than 53,000 people, many of them civilians, according to Gaza health authorities. Reuters
