Millions of children have been forced to leave their homes due to natural disasters

The world is going through a turbulent period in many respects, and tragedies are unfolding at an incredible pace. While some may go unnoticed on a small scale, the larger picture is clear. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has reported that floods, storms, and other weather-related disasters have forced millions of children to leave their homes, and the situation is expected to worsen if measures are not taken. A total of 43.1 million children in 44 countries were displaced between 2016 and 2021 due to events such as drought or wildfires, according to the organization. UNICEF recorded the highest number of children displaced due to environmental conditions in East Asia and the Pacific region, followed by South Asia. Among the countries with the highest absolute numbers were China and the Philippines, due to their exposure to extreme weather events, high numbers of children, and evacuation capacities. "As the impact of climate change escalates, so will the climate-induced displacement," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell in a statement. "We have the tools and knowledge to respond to this growing challenge for children, but we are acting far too slowly," she added. Extreme weather events have become more frequent in recent years due to climate change. Floods and storms accounted for 95% of child displacement cases, according to UNICEF, during the six-year period mentioned in its report titled "Children Uprooted in a Changing Climate." "The displacement of children is barely on the radar of leaders," said Verena Knaus, UNICEF's migration and displacement specialist. The report predicts that nearly 96 million children will be displaced solely due to river-related flooding in the next three decades, an average of nearly 3.2 million children each year.