According to a report by the non-governmental organization International Rescue Committee (IRC), climate change will exacerbate humanitarian crises around the world in 2023, exacerbating problems caused by armed conflict and economic shocks.

The New York-based NGO, which is headed by former British politician David Miliband, noted that the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance has risen sharply over the past decade to almost 339.2 million, up from 81 million in 2014.

Climate change is one of the key factors exacerbating humanitarian emergencies, the IRC pointed out, despite the fact that 20 of the countries most at risk, such as Haiti and Afghanistan, account for only 2% of global carbon dioxide emissions.

“2022 has shown that the role of climate change in exacerbating global humanitarian crises is undeniable,” the NGO report “The List of Emergencies for 2023” notes.

In particular, he mentioned the prolonged rains that “caused catastrophic food shortages in Somalia and Ethiopia” and killed thousands in Pakistan.

The IRC also noted the need for “investment in climate change prevention and mitigation” of its effects.

Meanwhile, food insecurity is already widespread due to conflicts as well as the economic crisis caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine and the covid-19 pandemic.

In addition, the $27 billion needed to fund humanitarian needs is missing.

“Donors are not responding” to needs, the report stresses. “As a result, communities affected by the crisis are unable to access the services they need to survive, recover and rebuild.”

The report also highlights that the number of people forced to leave their homes has increased to more than 100 million in 2022, up from 60 million in 2014.