Press Release
World Red Cross Day: Climate change is humanitarian issue
7 May 2008
- Humanitarian consequences of climate are enormous and must be addressed
- Efforts to prepare for weather related disasters stepped up
- Disaster Relief Emergency Fund more-than doubled
- The world must not wait to protect the most vulnerable
On World Red Cross Day (8 May), the British Red Cross is calling for the international community to recognise climate change as a humanitarian issue and help the poorest and most vulnerable communities prepare for its effects.
In 2007, 201 million people – one in every 33 people on the planet – were affected by natural disasters, a 40 per cent increase from 2006.
Climate change is a humanitarian issue as much as it is an environmental, political and economic one,” said Madeleen Helmer, head of the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre. “It is expected to lead to a significant increase in the frequency and severity of weather extremes like heatwaves, floods, droughts and tropical cyclones, and the spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue.”
An increase in severe weather related disasters will impact hardest on the most vulnerable people in the poorest countries.
Nepal is one of those countries forecast to suffer heavily from the effects of climate change as increased ice-melt from the Himalayas swells rivers further down stream.
The British Red Cross is a long-term supporter working with communities in Nepal constructing flood-retaining walls and building wooden bridges and evacuation shelters to help mitigate the effects of flooding.
The British Red Cross is also helping communities here at home prepare for emergencies. The floods of last summer showed the UK is not immune from extreme weather events which, according to current climate forecasts, are likely to become more frequent and severe.
"The UK floods destroyed property, halted drinking water supplies and left people stranded in their own homes," said head of UK emergency response, Martin Annis, "We can't always stop emergencies from happening but we can prepare for them. Simple, straightforward and effective advice can be found at www.redcross.org.uk/prepare."
In response to the global threat, the Red Cross movement is stepping up efforts to protect vulnerable people.
Early warning systems have been scaled up, investment in local, low cost adaptation and risk reduction, such as in Nepal, has been made a priority and the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund has been more-than doubled to £12m.
“It is vital that the world does not wait for a replacement of the Kyoto treaty to be in place before stepping up its response to climate change,” said David Peppiatt of the British Red Cross. ”The Copenhagen conference is still a year and a half away; it is crucial resources urgently reach those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change – in particular the poorest people in the poorest countries - to ensure they are adequately protected.
"Together, Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, along with key partners, can help many more people prepare for future disasters, but it is vital people are helped in advance. Once an emergency strikes, it may be too late."
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