‘A terrible price to pay’
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one country where the crisis is already having a huge effect. ‘The government has to spend more and more money to cope with changing weather patterns and failed crops,’ explains Hebdavi Muhindo, who oversees Tearfund’s work in the DRC.
‘There’s a fear that adapting to the climate emergency will come at the expense of public services like healthcare. That is a terrible price to pay for a crisis we did not cause.’
Urgent action needs to be taken to ensure that vulnerable communities affected by the climate crisis are able to protect themselves. Leaders of wealthy nations, including the UK, have promised to financially support lower-income countries to help them adapt to the effects of climate change. But much of this promised finance hasn’t been delivered.
Since the pledge was made, adaptation needs have continued to grow and it’s estimated that lower-income countries are only getting one tenth of the financial support they need.
A worsening crisis
‘The hunger crisis in East Africa has shown the terrible power of the climate emergency,’ says Elizabeth Myendo, who leads Tearfund’s disaster response work in the region.
‘Acute malnutrition and a lack of clean water is putting an intolerable strain on hospitals and clinics. Entire communities have been forced to leave their homes in search of food.
‘The climate crisis will only worsen, and governments will have to find the money somewhere to help people adapt. I fear that crucial services like healthcare will suffer unless rich countries deliver the climate finance they promised.’