Extreme weather events forced at least 38,000 people from their homes in Afghanistan in the first six months of this year, according to Save the Children. About half of those displaced are children. This figure surpasses the total displacements for the entire year of 2023.
Analysis of data from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) reveals a sharp increase in displacements due to droughts, extreme temperatures, floods, landslides, avalanches, and storms. While IDMC does not provide child-specific breakdowns, it indicates that half of those displaced are children. Afghanistan had the highest number of children made homeless by climate disasters globally at the end of 2023.
CLIMATE CHANGE AS A PRIMARY DRIVER
Historically, most displacements in Afghanistan were due to conflict. However, in 2022, climate disasters became the leading cause. Drought, identified by the UN as the primary cause, has led to massive internal migrations. One in seven Afghans faces long-term displacement, the highest number in South Asia and the second highest globally.
INABILITY TO ADAPT AND COPE
Afghanistan is the sixth most vulnerable country to climate change impacts but is one of the least capable of adapting. Over one-third of the population faces crisis levels of hunger, primarily due to climate shocks and high food prices. Twenty-five of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces are experiencing severe or catastrophic drought conditions, affecting more than half the population.
REGIONAL IMPACT AND HUMANITARIAN CRISIS
Kandahar province in the south is among the worst hit by drought. Hundreds of wells and water sources have dried up, forcing people to relocate. In one village where Save the Children operates, half of the families have left due to the drastic reduction in clean water. Those who remain often send their children to fetch water from distant, contaminated sources, leading to disease outbreaks.
TESTIMONIES AND STATEMENTS
Arshad Malik, Country Director for Save the Children in Afghanistan, highlighted the dire situation:
“The climate crisis is fuelling the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. It is forcing people from their homes, destroying water sources, and preventing children from going to school. It is changing children’s lives. Compared to 60-year-olds, newborns in Afghanistan will confront 5.3 times more drought in their lifetimes.
“Afghanistan is seeing extreme weather events with alarming frequency. This year alone, thousands of people have not only been displaced by drought, but also by floods. The climate crisis is destroying Afghan lives and livelihoods.
“Adapting to and preparing for the impacts of climate change needs to be a priority, even at a time when funding is massively stretched. It’s been three years since direct international aid, which was equivalent to 40% of the GDP and financed up to 80% of public expenditure, was reduced after the de facto authorities regained control. Three years since the country saw a massive drop in assistance. Humanitarian agencies cannot be expected to plug this gap alone.”
URGENT NEED FOR CLIMATE ADAPTATION
The rising frequency of extreme weather events necessitates urgent climate adaptation and preparedness measures. With international aid significantly reduced, the burden on humanitarian agencies has increased. Addressing the climate crisis in Afghanistan requires coordinated efforts and sustained funding to protect the most vulnerable, particularly children.
The plight of those displaced by extreme weather in Afghanistan underscores the urgent need for comprehensive climate action. As climate disasters increasingly displace populations, protecting the vulnerable, especially children, must be a priority. Ensuring adequate funding and international support is crucial to mitigate the impacts of climate change and secure a stable future for Afghanistan’s population.
