The number of climate-related natural disasters in the world is increasing. Currently, four out of five natural disasters are related to climate change. That’s an increase of 35 percent compared to the 1990s. In 2020, the counter will stand at 132 so far.
This is the conclusion of the Red Cross in the World Disasters Report 2020. Globally, a total of 1.7 billion people have been affected by a climate-related natural disaster in the past ten years.
The consequences of climate change, and thus the number of disasters, will increase further if no action is taken, the Red Cross warns. For example, more severe hurricanes of category 4 and 5 are expected in the future.
More extreme heat waves and flooding due to heavy rainfall will also occur. “It is not an option to only help when the natural disaster has already struck,” warns the international aid organization.
The most vulnerable people are the least protected
The Red Cross also notes that the world’s most vulnerable people are not well enough protected from natural disasters caused by climate change. The affected countries receive only a fraction of the money available to arm themselves against natural disasters.
If poor countries could invest more in warning systems, this would save a lot of casualties and suffering, according to the Red Cross.
This month, hundreds of people were killed by hurricanes in Central America and typhoons in the Philippines. The aid organization opened a special giro number last Friday and wants to use the proceeds to provide emergency aid and invest in preventive measures. This requires 70 million euros.
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