Why number of displaced children shot up seven times

Yvonne Arunga, Country Director for Save the Children Kenya and Madagascar addresses child climate change campaigners on September 3, 2023, during a pre-Africa Climate Summit. [Mercy Kahenda, Standard]

The report notes displacement is the highest annual number of new displacements from climate disasters ever reported for the region, as the impacts of consecutive climate shocks have begun to sink in and both resilience of land and coping mechanisms of communities become exhausted.

"These figures lay bare the stark reality rights of children in Kenya and across the region are being eroded at an alarming rate by impacts of the climate crisis," said The Save Children in a statement.

Meanwhile, countries on the continent have contributed the least to the crisis, with a small share of global greenhouse gas emissions of all the world's regions.

"We are hoping that figures of displacement will spur leaders at the Africa Climate Week to wake up to the experiences of children across the region, acknowledge that the climate crisis is having a disastrous impact on their lives, and act urgently to factor in children's needs and rights into the much-needed response," added Arunga.

Further, With the El Nino weather pattern taking hold, causing even more extreme weather events and pushing up global temperatures further, it is likely that this figure will increase this year, said the child rights agency.

In the Horn of Africa, El Nino is historically associated with above-average rain during the October to December rainy season. As has been evidenced by rains in recent months, rains on the parched ground following almost three years of drought bring further risks of flooding, displacement, food shortages and disease.