A new report from UNICEF has shed light on the impact of extreme weather on children around the globe. Over the span of six years, 2016 to 2021, the UN agency estimates that 43.1 million children were displaced from their homes due to weather-related disasters. Storms were responsible for the most such disruption in this time, causing roughly 21.2 million child displacements. Flooding was a close second, with 19.7 million.
As covered in the report, the dangers of displacement for children cannot to be understated: “In the aftermath of a disaster, children may become separated from their parents or caregivers, amplifying the risks of exploitation, child trafficking, and abuse. Displacement can disrupt access to education and healthcare, exposing children to malnutrition, disease, and inadequate immunization.”
