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Saturday | November 07, 2026 | Dhaka

90m displaced people at climate risk

 Staff Reporter
 Published: 12:01 AM, 07 November 2026  Updated: 11:55 PM, 06 November 2026
UNHCR urges more funding as Bangladesh, other vulnerable countries face growing threats

Bangladesh is among the countries where millions of displaced people face mounting threats from climate change, as floods, droughts and extreme heat increasingly compound the hardships caused by conflict and forced migration.

Around 90 million displaced people worldwide are at risk from climate-related disasters, including prolonged droughts, floods and extreme heatwaves, prompting the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to call for increased funding to help vulnerable communities adapt to changing environmental conditions.

The warning came in a report released on Friday (November 6), ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey. The report examines the growing links between conflict, forced displacement and climate change, highlighting the mounting risks faced by vulnerable populations.

According to the UNHCR, nearly three-quarters of the world’s forcibly displaced people live in countries, including Afghanistan and Bangladesh, that are highly exposed to climate risks.

The overlapping effects of conflict, displacement and environmental degradation are making their living conditions increasingly precarious.

UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations Anton Leis García said adapting to climate change was particularly difficult in regions already struggling with conflict and displacement.

He stressed the urgent need to ensure that climate finance reaches the communities most in need of assistance.

The agency also warned that climate change is making it increasingly difficult for displaced people to return home safely and rebuild their lives permanently.

More than two-thirds of refugees who returned to their countries during the first six months of 2026 ended up in areas highly vulnerable to climate change, according to UNHCR data. This leaves them exposed to the risk of being displaced again.

Syria provides a stark example of the overlapping crises. Many of the nearly four million displaced people who have recently returned to the country are struggling with severe water shortages and erratic rainfall.

Flooding of the Euphrates River last May also damaged thousands of homes, forcing many people to face further displacement, the report said.

The consequences of rising temperatures are expected to be particularly severe in refugee settlements across sub-Saharan Africa.

By 2050, one in every three refugee camps in the region could experience at least 100 days of deadly heatwaves annually, according to the report. In some settlements, including Helawen in Ethiopia, extreme heat could persist for more than 200 days a year, increasing the risks of heatstroke and premature deaths.

Inadequate access to cooling facilities, water and electricity further exposes refugees to dangerous temperatures, leaving them with limited means of protection.

The UNHCR also warned that a potentially strong El Niño event could intensify climate-related disasters in countries hosting large refugee populations.

Forecasts indicate that severe flooding in East African countries, including Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda, could displace up to three million people by the end of this year. Several parts of Asia are also facing heightened risks of droughts, floods and cyclones.

Against this backdrop, the agency has urged world leaders and international climate finance institutions attending COP31 in Turkey to substantially increase funding for climate adaptation.

It pointed out that only around 10 per cent of global climate finance reaches fragile and conflict-affected countries, an amount far below what is required to protect displaced people and other vulnerable communities.

Separately, a United Nations report released last Wednesday estimated that developing countries need $305 billion annually to adapt to climate change. However, wealthy nations are falling significantly short of meeting their financial commitments.

The UNHCR said greater investment in climate adaptation was essential to help displaced populations withstand environmental shocks, reduce the risk of repeated displacement and build more secure futures.