Our changing climate is making humanitarian work more difficult

Water scarcity, food insecurity, and the overall health of vulnerable populations are issues that organisations are trying to solve.

In recent years however, the unpredictability of weather patterns and extreme natural disasters are becoming key obstacles to humanitarian work.

As conditions worsen, logistical challenges such as damaged infrastructure and disrupted supply chains stand in the way of aid delivery. This, in turn, heightens the physical and mental health risks for both aid workers and the people they aim to serve.

The testimony of an MSF worker in Mozambique outlines describes these challenges. Cyclone Gombe, which struck in March 2022, left communities isolated from the MSF team, as collapsed bridges severely hampered the ability to transport and provide aid.

Despite these obstacles, MSF is actively adapting its operations to better cope with the effects of climate change.

Innovations in data-driven emergency preparedness, such as monitoring rainfall and crop yields to anticipate food insecurity, are among the strategies being employed. These efforts aim to pre-emptively address issues before they escalate into crises.

That said, the report acknowledges that adaptive measures are still extremely limited. The scale of the climate crisis is far-reaching and varied, meaning many communities and humanitarian organisations continue to be vulnerable due to insufficient preparedness and a lack of resources.

Léo Lysandre Tremblay, who leads MSF’s HACE Initiative and co-authored the report, calls for more ambitious actions to mitigate risks and bolster climate preparedness.

The report was conducted not only to shed light on the challenges faced by MSF’s workers and the communities they serve, but to encourage other organisations to reflect on the health impacts of climate change and enhance their own strategies.

MSF hopes that by sharing these findings, it can spark further action to safeguard vulnerable populations from the escalating threats posed by climate change.