A leading humanitarian organization, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), has unveiled the devastating impact of climate change on its life-saving aid efforts. The organization’s new report, ‘A hostile climate: Confronting the challenges of aid delivery in the context of climate change,’ reveals how climate change is inflicting a ‘double blow’ on humanitarian endeavors. Not only are health risks multiplying, but climate change is also making humanitarian interventions more challenging and complex to implement.
The report, a collaborative effort between MSF’s Humanitarian Action for Climate and Environment (HACE) Initiative and Heidelberg University Institute of Global Health, delves into the experiences of MSF humanitarian workers, patients, and communities in 30 different countries. The researchers interviewed 49 humanitarian staff, shedding light on the intricate connections between climate hazards and the growing humanitarian needs.
Climate change is causing severe disruptions in water availability and quality, leading to food scarcity and exacerbating existing health challenges. These impacts are hindering MSF’s ability to effectively respond to communities in distress due to multiple factors. Damaged infrastructure, supply chain disruptions, and increasingly hazardous conditions for mental and physical health are all consequences of climate change that complicate aid delivery.
An MSF humanitarian worker in Mozambique describes the challenges they faced during a recent flood: “In March [2022], there was flooding here, which created big problems at the community level. Some communities were isolated, and the MSF team was confined to one place… the bridges had collapsed, so we couldn’t move the team from one region to another.”
Despite these daunting obstacles, MSF is unwavering in its commitment to delivering vital aid. The organization’s teams are adapting their operations to address the challenges posed by climate change, working hand-in-hand with communities to build resilience. The report details how MSF workers are changing their approaches, adopting data-driven emergency preparedness and surveillance systems to anticipate and respond to climate-related health threats, such as malnutrition and food insecurity.
While MSF is taking strides in adapting to climate change, the report acknowledges the limited scope of these efforts. The magnitude of the crisis demands a more ambitious response.
“Many communities and organizations remain vulnerable to the escalating risks presented by climate change, because the response does not measure up to the needs,” states Léo Lysandre Tremblay, Lead of MSF’s HACE Initiative and a co-author of the report. “This underscores the importance of more ambitious action to reduce risk, increase preparedness, and protect people and communities from the impacts of climate change.”
MSF emphasizes that the report’s aim is to raise awareness of the challenges posed by climate change and its impact on humanitarian work. The organization hopes that its findings will encourage other aid organizations to reflect on the health consequences of climate change and develop strategies to mitigate its effects. By sharing its insights, MSF seeks to inspire collective action to address this urgent global crisis.
