Aftermath of Earthquakes in Haiti and Droughts in Madagascar
Welcome to the second YFCR newsletter. Every month we post a newsletter where we inform our subscribers about global issues concerning climate refugees. YFCR aims to raise awareness and money to support those who have lost their homes or are forced to migrate due to climate related issues. For this newsletter, we will be focusing on events affecting climate refugees that happened in September. September was a month of many losses in which we saw the effects of the climate crisis on thousands of people.
After the devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake and tropical storm that hit Haiti in August, thousands fled the Caribbean island in hopes of finding safety elsewhere. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, there were about 30,000 Haitian migrants that were apprehended and expelled back to Haiti from the United States on the US-Mexico border. Around 15,000 of these were camping out at the border, in hopes of being processed for asylum and finding shelter in the United States. According to CBC news, shortly after arrival, around 7,000 asylum seekers were sent back to Haiti from the Us. Many of the remaining migrants were sent back by September 24th. For many, the conditions they face going back home are brutal. Haiti is in the midst of multiple humanitarian and political crises, frequently experiencing natural disasters and political violence. While they camped at the border many were stripped of their humanitarian rights and US border patrol agents showed grand disregard for those in need. Human Rights Watch has stated that this is just the newest example of discriminatory policies against those from Central America and Haiti. These people are disproportionately discriminated against because of their ethnicity and race. Allison Leal Parker, U.S. Managing Director at Human Rights Watch stated that, “The US government showed a total disregard for the right to seek asylum when it sent agents on horseback with reins flailing to control and deter this largely Black migrant population.” The climate related events that devastated the island in the month of August were the reason many Haitians were forced to flee.
While climate change is devastating the communities in Haiti, the people of Madagascar are facing a completely different issue. Madagascar is on the brink of becoming the first country with a climate induced famine that will cause turmoil and force many to migrate. Madagascar has been facing an extreme drought that is said to be the worst in four decades. This drought has devastated farms all across the island, leading families to be forced to scavenge for food in order to survive. The UN estimates that the number of people facing the highest level of food insecurity could rapidly rise as the conditions in Madagascar worsen. The people of Madagascar have been at the edge of starvation for months, barely managing to hold on and many have resorted to eating insects. Families watch their loved ones slowly decay from the lack of food, feasting on the tiniest of insects in hopes of obtaining more nutrients. Madagascar frequently experiences droughts, but this one has been worsened because of the effects of global warming and climate change. As stated by Shelley Thakral on a BBC article, "These are famine-like conditions and they're being driven by climate not conflict. This is unprecedented. These people have done nothing to contribute to climate change. They don't burn fossil fuels… and yet they are bearing the brunt of climate change.” Ms.Tharkal is not the only one who believes this, many experts are stating that Madagascar’s climate crises can be directly linked to climate change. Without change, this drought could cause a large death toll to the population of Madagascar.
Haiti and Madagascar are in dire situations right now and our help is needed. Share this newsletter to spread awareness, donate to the organizations provided at the bottom of this newsletter, and educate yourself on how to change your lifestyle to positively affect the planet.
Organizations to are helping Haiti and Madagascar:
Capracare - https://www.capracare.org/get-to-know-us/about-us
Seed Madagascar - https://madagascar.co.uk/
Photo Credit: Britannica
