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Dear Global Community,
The year 2024 has been one of profound challenges, as natural disasters have devastated numerous communities across the globe. Yet, it has also highlighted the strength of human resilience and the power of collective solidarity. The Migration Youth and Children Platform (MYCP) stands united with the people of all regions that have endured the relentless impact of these disasters. We send out this solidarity statement so that people who have had their lives greatly impacted – due not only to natural disasters, but poor infrastructure that could not handle it, lack of government involvement and response, and an overall lackluster action against climate change – do not suffer in silence. These disasters have been felt in every part of the world, and we wish to take the time to acknowledge what has happened.
While this statement expresses solidarity, it is important to recognize that it is in no way representative or exhaustive of all the natural disasters that have tragically impacted different parts of the world this year. Many communities and their struggles may not be mentioned here, but their pain and resilience are equally acknowledged and honored.
In 2024, rainfall in 27 tropical African countries was abnormally high in comparison to their historical averages. These increases in rainfall intensity and volume in Africa are consistent with global trends. About 11 million people were affected by flooding brought on by the heavy rains, which led to an estimated that 2,500 people died, four million people have been displaced, croplands covering millions of hectares were submerged, livestock losses of hundreds of thousands, and hundreds of medical facilities were damaged or destroyed. Due to the flooding of thousands of schools or their conversion into temporary accommodation for displaced persons, 10 million students in Niger, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Mali are unable to attend school (Africa Center for Strategic Studies, 2024).
In 2024, Asia-Pacific faced devastating climate disasters, solidifying its position as the world’s most disaster-prone region. Cyclone Remal in Bangladesh affected 4.6 million people along with 16 deaths, and floods in Sylhet impacted 7.2 million (ACAPS, 2024; IFRC, 2023). The Philippines’ six tropical typhoons affected 10 million people, caused 158 deaths, and displaced 208,000 (ReliefWeb, 2024) – evidencing the aggravation of the climate crisis. Japan’s earthquake killed 48 people. Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal experienced severe floods and landslides, resulting in hundreds of deaths. India’s monsoons and North Korea’s floods claimed thousands of lives. Russia’s wildfires destroyed 5 million hectares of forest, emphasizing the region’s vulnerability to climate change (International Charter Space and Major Disasters, 2024). In Pakistan, more than 140,000 people were displaced by severe floodings in August, with many still currently living in tents and dealing with health hazards and lost income, which are made worse by a lack of government or international assistance (Amnesty International, 2024).
Much of South America was hit with severe droughts this year, deeply impacting the livelihoods of people and the land they use to survive. The Amazon is experiencing one of the worst droughts in over 40 years (UN Environment Programme, 2024). Along with the dryness, much of the territory saw devastating wildfires, including in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Paraguay. Floods also threatened livelihoods and displaced people across the region, with more than 2 million people affected and 420,000 displaced in 95% of the municipalities in the State of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil (UNHCR, 2024).
Europe has increasingly gotten hotter, with many countries reaching record temperatures. Along with an increase in temperature, countries such as Spain, Austria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania and Slovakia experienced severe flooding. In September, a month’s worth of rainfall hit in just 24 hours, coming to be known as Storm Boris. At least 26 people died in these floods and thousands were displaced (Disaster Philanthropy, 2024). In October in the Southeastern region of Valencia in Spain, more than 220 were killed in flash flooding episodes due to extreme rainfall and rivers overflowing (BBC, 2024).
North America experienced vast natural disasters throughout the year. In Mexico, 17 people died after a hurricane and tropical storm hit the same region twice (AP World News, 2024). In much of the Caribbean and Gulf Coast of the United States, Hurricane Beryl broke many meteorological records, including being the earliest forming Category 5 hurricane on record (USA Today, 2024). In the U.S. state of Texas, over 3 million people were left without power and 36 people dead (NBC, 2024). Throughout the islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada, as well as Venezuela, there were reports of 3 deaths each (ReliefWeb, 2024).
In light of devastating natural disasters that have struck South West Asia and Northern Africa in 2024, we stand with affected communities. In April, the United Arab Emirates and Oman were struck by unprecedented rainfall, causing severe flooding that resulted in at least 20 fatalities and widespread infrastructural damage (Forbes, 2024). Heavy rain also fell in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Yemen and Saudi Arabia, some of whom experienced flooding. Strong weather fluctuations accompanied by strong winds exceeding 70 km/h and very heavy rains affected the northwestern regions of Libya. In Sudan, between April and October, there were 140 reported incidents of sudden displacement due to natural hazards, including floods and fires, affecting approximately 192,030 individuals across 16 states (IOM, 2024).
Among the most vulnerable are children and youth, as these events have left lasting scars on families and communities. We acknowledge that these catastrophes have inflicted a significant emotional burden on young people and children, particularly those who are already residing in a state of uncertainty and displacement. For many, the challenge is not only one of survival but of imagining a hopeful future amid the devastation. We stand ready to support you, to lift your voices, and to ensure your needs and rights are front and center in recovery efforts.
MYCP is committed to promoting global cooperation, advocating for climate action that prioritizes the needs of children and youth, and raising awareness. To all those affected, please know that you are not alone. We will continue to stand by you as you rebuild your homes, your communities, and your futures.
In solidarity and shared hope for a resilient future,
Migration Youth and Children Platform (MYCP)
MYCP is part of the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) – the official, formal and self-organised space for children and youth (aged below 30) to contribute to and engage in certain intergovernmental and allied policy processes at the UN since 1992. Our mission is to bridge children and youth and the UN system, with a focus on migration issues, in order to ensure that their right to meaningful participation is realised. We do so by engaging children and youth entities in formal and informal forms in the design, implementation, monitoring, follow-up and review of sustainable development policies at all levels in four areas: Policy & Advocacy, Capacity Building, Youth Action and Knowledge.
