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17 Dec 2020 GENEVA, Switzerland

Disastrous Climate Damage Continued In 2020

The World Meterological Organization (WMO) assesses that 2020 is on track to be the second warmest year in the most recent decade, with the warmest six years being since 2015.Preliminary information, based on data collected from January to October 2020, shows how high-impact events such as floods, extreme heat and wildfires affected millions of people...

22 Nov 2020 GLASGOW, United Kingdom

Increased "Green Economy" Funding Required For Climate Change Resilience, Access To Water

The World's 450 multilateral development banks have jointly pledged to “support the transformation of the global economy and societies towards sustainable and resilient development”. At a first "Finance in Common" Summit, the banks reaffirmed the need to respond to the impacts of COVID-19 and work cooperatively in order to deliver provide the support in each and every country, across the globe...

14 Jan 2020 SYDNEY, Australia

Australia Bushfires And The Threat to Drinking Water, Ecosystems

Devastating ongoing bushfires in Australia threaten to wreak havoc on water resources as ecologists warn that resultant algae blossoms threaten freshwater ecosystems and diminish the quality of drinking water. Australian wildfires have burned as much as 26 Million acres of land.Burned catchment areas are increasing the level of mercury in lakes and water reserves as burnt sediment is now travelling into them...

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5 Nov 2019 MOGADISHU, Somalia

Flooding Escalates Human Displacement, Disease Risk In Somalia

Over 275,000 people in Somalia have been displaced by heavy rains in October, bringing the number to 575,000 since January following devastating flodds. Insecurity in many regions is making access for humanitarians virtually impossible according to new estimates from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and the crisis in rural areas is causing migration to urban areas...

5 Jun 2019 HARARE, Zimbabwe

Drought Forces Zimbabwe To Seek Relief On Power Payments To South Africa

The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) announced plans June 3 to approach power supplier Eskom of South Africa for relief on a payment plan for power imports as drought hits hydro power production capacity in Zimbabwe.Zimbabwe has had power shortages since 2007 and has relied on imports of over 350 MW from Eskom and about 50 MW from HCB of Mozambique...

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30 Sep 2018 SANGHAR

Pakistan: Drought Stricken Residents Demand Sindh Government Intervention

Scores of drought-stricken residents of Achhro Thar, an extended part of Thar proper, have demanded the Sindh government should immediately supply them water and fodder for their starving livestock and relief goods for the equally affected humans. Villagers as well as their cows, goats and camels had been braving acute shortage of fodder and water since 2011, resulting in diseases in many animals and deaths of others...

29 May 2018 NAIROBI, Kenya

Eastern Africa Floods Death Toll Almost 500. Food Shortages Predicted. Disease Warnings Issued

Rainfall that has been twice the seasonal average in parts of eastern Africa has claimed almost 500 lives, forced thousands from their homes and damaged crops, raising the spectre of a repeat of last year’s food shortages. A series of small Kenyan dams collapsed at the weekend, killing five people — the latest victims of the deluges that began around the main wet season in March, and which have also caused deaths in Rwanda, Ethiopia, Somalia and Tanzania...

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2 Nov 2017 MOSCOW, Russia

What’s Killing the Seals in Putin’s Favorite Lake?

Around 130 dead seals have washed up on the shores of Russia’s Lake Baikal this week, prompting an investigation by Siberian authorities. Scientists have identified exhaustion caused by hunger as the primary cause of the mass deaths, prompting further investigation into the mammals’ habitat and food chain...

5 Sep 2017 ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

UN Food Agency Heads Call for Investment to Address Root Causes of Hunger. Trump-Nominated WFP Chief Beasley Slams Saudi Role in Yemen Crisis

The heads of the three food agencies of the United Nations (UN) this week made a joint call for greater investment in long-term activities that strengthen people’s resilience to drought and the impacts of climate shocks.Speaking at the conclusion of a four-day visit to Ethiopia, including to the drought-stricken Somali region, José Graziano da Silva, Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Gilbert F...

11 Nov 2016 NEW YORK, NY, United States

UN Agencies Launch Cholera Vaccination Campaign in Matthew-Hit Parts of Haiti

UN agencies including the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) this week launched a cholera vaccination campaign in areas of Haiti hit hard by Hurricane Matthew last month.“The target population is estimated at 820,000 people over one year of age,” Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary General, told reporters in New York...

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28 Sep 2016 NEW YORK, NY, United States

UNGA: More on Climate and Disease

Government representatives from a number of developing and least developed countries have spoken at the General Assembly of the United Nations about challenges related to water.A number of speakers expressed concern about the impact of climate change and the lack of sustainable climate financing. Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini of Swaziland said: “The negative impact of climate change has become a thorn in our economy...

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28 Jul 2016 MASERU, Lesotho

El Niño Drought Update for Lesotho Reflects Dire Situation

United Nations Resident Coordinator and UN Development Program (UNDP) Resident Representative in Lesotho Karla Hershey this week issued an update on the El Niño-related drought situation in the country. The update, dated July 26, 2016, is the fourth since the country’s Prime Minister, Dr. Pakalitha Mosisili, declared a drought emergency in December 2015...

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