Refugees stuck in vicious cycle of conflict and climate: UN

GENEVA,

Millions of refugees are caught in a vicious cycle of conflict and climate shocks, the United Nations warned Monday, urging the COP30 summit to provide targeted financing for the most vulnerable populations.

According to UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, nearly half of the world’s refugees currently reside in countries that could face extreme climate exposure within 15 years. “Climate change is not only amplifying existing vulnerabilities - it is also fuelling displacement trends, creating complex and compounding risks for refugees… leaving many with no escape from its impacts,” the agency said in a report.

The report highlighted that climate shocks are intensifying humanitarian needs and raising the risk of repeated displacement. By mid-2025, 117 million people had been displaced by war, violence, and persecution, three-quarters of whom live in countries facing high-to-extreme climate hazards. Over the past decade, weather-related disasters alone have caused roughly 250 million internal displacements.

“Extreme weather is destroying homes and livelihoods, and forcing families - many who have already fled violence - to flee once more,” said UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi. “These are people who have already endured immense loss, and now they face the same hardships and devastation again. They are among the hardest hit by severe droughts, deadly floods and record-breaking heatwaves, yet they have the fewest resources to recover.”

The agency warned that by 2050, the hottest 15 refugee camps - located in The Gambia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Senegal, and Mali - are projected to experience nearly 200 days of hazardous heat stress annually. Many of these areas could become uninhabitable due to the combination of extreme heat and high humidity.

The report also projected that the number of countries facing extreme climate exposure will rise from three to 65 by 2040. These countries host over 45 percent of all people currently displaced by conflict.

UNHCR noted that cuts in foreign aid, including sharp reductions under former US President Donald Trump - historically the agency’s largest donor - have limited its ability to protect refugees from climate impacts. “Funding cuts are severely limiting our ability to protect refugees and displaced families from the effects of extreme weather,” Grandi said. “To prevent further displacement, climate financing needs to reach the communities already living on the edge. This COP must deliver real action, not empty promises.”

The report highlighted opportunities for sustainable investment, suggesting that financing environmental restoration in refugee-hosting areas could create jobs and strengthen local climate resilience.