Environmental degradation, disasters reasons for migration

ENVIRONMENTAL degradation and natural disasters are key drivers of migration, which sometimes result in conflicts and political instability around the world.

This was said by environmental commissioner Teofilus Nghitila at the launch of a one-year project on migration, environment and climate change for southern Africa and the Indian Ocean in Windhoek last week.

This initiative to be implemented in Namibia, Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius, seeks to impart knowledge about the relationship between migration and environmental change, including climate change to provide information for the formulation of regional policy and operational planning.

Nghitila said every year millions of people around the world are forced to leave their homes because of natural disasters and a changing climate.

“It cannot be doubted that migration, environment, climate change and natural disasters are interrelated and that environmental degradation and natural disasters are key drivers of migration and human mobility,” said Nghitila in a speech read on his behalf by the head of multilateral environmental agreements in the Ministry of Environnment and Tourism, Peter Muteyauli.

He said Namibia is fortunate not to have conflicts but the migration of people from rural to urban areas has become particularly pronounced.

“The most recent figures indicate that the urban population now makes up 50% of the country’s population.

“This dramatic increase should pose serious questions and points to a lack of opportunities in our rural areas, the impact of climate change, particularly through droughts and floods. This trend needs to be assessed and decisively mitigated so that the quality of life in our rural areas is improved,” said Nghitila.

The project is funded by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to develop capacities in migration management.

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