Number of ‘environmental refugees’ fleeing disasters increasing, warns the UN

GENEVA – Declining soil fertility, drought, deforestation and other gradual environmental deterioration will force up to 50 million people from their homes over the next five years, UN experts predicted on Tuesday.

Rising sea levels, expanding deserts and catastrophic weather-induced flooding have already contributed to large permanent migrations and could eventually displace hundreds of millions, said the United Nations University’s Institute for Environment and Human Security in Bonn, Germany. “There are well-founded fears that the number of people fleeing untenable environmental conditions may grow exponentially as the world experiences the effects of climate change and other phenomena,” said Janos Bogardi, the director of the institute.The UN refugee agency estimates the current number of refugees worldwide at 19,2 million.But UNU says the number of people forced to move because of environmental deterioration already equals and may someday dwarf that number.Amid such predictions, the institute is urging the international community to “define, recognise and extend support” for such refugees.”This new category of refugee needs to find a place in international agreements.We need to better anticipate support requirements,” Bogardi said.Unlike victims of political upheaval or violence – who have access through governments and international organisations to such assistance as financial grants, food, tools, shelter, schools and clinics – “environmental refugees” are not yet recognised in world conventions, UNU said.Victims of sudden and highly publicised catastrophes like the recent US Gulf Coast hurricanes or the 2004 tsunami in Asia benefit from the generosity of the private and public sectors as well as humanitarian relief, UNU said.But millions of others around the world, uprooted by more gradual environmental change receive comparatively little support and are not recognised as “refugees” with the associated benefits, it said.UNU estimates that environment-related migration has been most acute in Sub-Saharan Africa but also affects millions of people in Asia and India.North Africa and Latin America are suffering the consequences of deteriorating soil and water conditions.The Gobi desert in China expands more than 10 000 square kilometres per year, threatening many villages, UNU said.Morocco, Tunisia and Libya each lose over 1 000 square kilometres of productive land every year to desertification.In Turkey 160 000 square kilometres of farmlands are affected by soil erosion.Louisiana now loses roughly 65 square kilometres of land to the sea every year, estimates Florida professor Tony Oliver-Smith – who will chair the UNU-EHS Munich Re Foundation in 2007-08 and is studying the recent exodus from New Orleans and other environment-related migrations.In Alaska, 213 communities are threatened by tides that creep roughly three metres further inland each year.UNU said the projected figure of 50 million is based on several previous reports, including the World Disasters Report from the International Red Cross.- Nampa-AP”There are well-founded fears that the number of people fleeing untenable environmental conditions may grow exponentially as the world experiences the effects of climate change and other phenomena,” said Janos Bogardi, the director of the institute.The UN refugee agency estimates the current number of refugees worldwide at 19,2 million.But UNU says the number of people forced to move because of environmental deterioration already equals and may someday dwarf that number.Amid such predictions, the institute is urging the international community to “define, recognise and extend support” for such refugees.”This new category of refugee needs to find a place in international agreements.We need to better anticipate support requirements,” Bogardi said.Unlike victims of political upheaval or violence – who have access through governments and international organisations to such assistance as financial grants, food, tools, shelter, schools and clinics – “environmental refugees” are not yet recognised in world conventions, UNU said.Victims of sudden and highly publicised catastrophes like the recent US Gulf Coast hurricanes or the 2004 tsunami in Asia benefit from the generosity of the private and public sectors as well as humanitarian relief, UNU said.But millions of others around the world, uprooted by more gradual environmental change receive comparatively little support and are not recognised as “refugees” with the associated benefits, it said.UNU estimates that environment-related migration has been most acute in Sub-Saharan Africa but also affects millions of people in Asia and India.North Africa and Latin America are suffering the consequences of deteriorating soil and water conditions.The Gobi desert in China expands more than 10 000 square kilometres per year, threatening many villages, UNU said.Morocco, Tunisia and Libya each lose over 1 000 square kilometres of productive land every year to desertification.In Turkey 160 000 square kilometres of farmlands are affected by soil erosion.Louisiana now loses roughly 65 square kilometres of land to the sea every year, estimates Florida professor Tony Oliver-Smith – who will chair the UNU-EHS Munich Re Foundation in 2007-08 and is studying the recent exodus from New Orleans and other environment-related migrations.In Alaska, 213 communities are threatened by tides that creep roughly three metres further inland each year.UNU said the projected figure of 50 million is based on several previous reports, including the World Disasters Report from the International Red Cross.- Nampa-AP