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UNICEF Report Finds Half of World's Children Face at Least Three Climate Hazards
A new UNICEF report shows nearly every child worldwide faces at least one climate hazard, with half exposed to three or more overlapping threats including heatwaves, floods and droughts. Children in Papua New Guinea must swim across a crocodile-filled river daily after a bridge washed away in 2012.
UN
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A UNICEF report released this week found that half the world's children are exposed to at least three overlapping climate hazards that threaten their health, education and survival. The analysis examined eight hazards and concluded that almost every child, including those in high-income countries, now faces at least one such threat.
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Striking footage from the agency shows children in Papua New Guinea swimming across the crocodile-filled Kemp Welch river each day to reach school after a footbridge washed away in 2012 and was never replaced. Hundreds of children make the crossing in the Rigo district community of Launkalana.
Lorna, 15, is among those who swim the river. She said elders prevent girls from crossing during their periods because they fear it will attract crocodiles. "During our periods, our elders do not allow us to cross the river to attend our classes as they think it will attract crocodiles … My dream is to become a teacher or pilot.
We want a new bridge so we can go to school safely every day," Lorna said. The community's headteacher said monsoon season brings heavy currents, dead trees and debris that cause injury and death, while many children fall sick from the kalty river water, widening learning gaps especially for girls.
The community has been unable to raise funds for a replacement bridge.
Unicef found children in Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan face more climate hazards than anywhere else. In the Sahel region of Africa, more than 4 million children confront the triple threat of heatwaves, extreme heat and sand and dust storms.
More than 6 million children in Italy are exposed to prolonged heatwaves and drought. 123,000 children experience more than six hazards in their lifetimes. Rising temperatures and extreme weather are stressing infrastructure, with roads and bridges particularly affected.
