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Politics

Escaping the Heat: Rising Climate Disasters Displace Hundreds of Thousands Across MENA

Thursday 29 February 2024 - 08:44

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A new report from EuroMed Rights sheds light on the escalating human toll of climate change in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Last year alone, over 300,000 people in MENA countries were displaced by extreme weather events, underscoring the urgent need for robust policy responses to the mass displacement caused by rising temperatures.

The MENA region faces some of the most severe impacts of global warming due to acute water scarcity and heavy reliance on subsistence farming. Research indicates that 60% of the population in this predominantly arid region now resides in high water-stress zones. With climate models forecasting more frequent and severe droughts in the near future, the report warns that millions could lose their means of livelihood without decisive action.

Morocco provides a poignant illustration of these vulnerabilities. The country's climate strategy acknowledges the regional consequences of climate change, such as desertification driving emigration. If current trends persist, as many as 19 million internal climate migrants could abandon increasingly arid rural areas for urban centers by 2050 due to worsening conditions.

Despite international commitments at the United Nations recognizing the need for action on climate adaptation, resilience, and the protection of displaced populations, EuroMed Rights found disappointing implementation. Both the EU's flagship Green Deal and Migration Pact lack coherent strategies to address this looming crisis, prioritizing border control over providing refuge for those fleeing the impacts of climate change.

In the absence of robust regional refugee frameworks, displaced individuals in MENA countries have limited options. Morocco stands out as an exception, actively formulating climate policies with migration in mind, including residency programs designed to accommodate over 52,000 immigrants vulnerable to environmental factors.

However, significant gaps in data and fragmented efforts jeopardize the well-being of affected populations. The report highlights promising practices such as temporary disaster displacement protections that could serve as models for much-needed reform. It calls for solidarity between countries bearing the brunt of climate-related burdens and those hesitating to act on this slow-moving crisis unfolding in their midst.

As climate disasters continue to displace hundreds of thousands across the MENA region with no foreseeable end, coordinated action is imperative to safeguard lives and livelihoods in the sweltering Mediterranean region.