Floods and drought displaced 3.4 million in 2023

In the 10 countries worst affected by droughts and floods, people were forced to flee almost 8 million times last year - many of them repeatedly. This is more than twice as many as a decade ago. During the same period, hunger almost tripled in five of these countries.

Somalia, China, the Philippines, Pakistan, Kenya, Ethiopia, India, Brazil, Bangladesh and Malaysia top the list of countries where the most people were displaced by floods and droughts last year, according to the Global Internal Displacement Database. In these countries, the number of times people were displaced from their homes increased from 3.5 million in 2013 to 7.9 million in 2023.

Climate change has increased the intensity and frequency of floods and droughts. According to data collected by Oxfam for World Refugee Day, recorded flood and drought disasters in the ten worst-affected countries have skyrocketed - from 24 incidents in 2013 to 656 last year. Somalia alone was hit by 223 different floods or droughts in 2023 compared to just two in 2013. The Philippines was hit 74 times (compared to just three in 2013), Brazil 79 times compared to four and Malaysia 127 times compared to just once in 2013.

Globally, floods and droughts have forced more than 3.4 million people to leave their homes last year alone - as many as the entire population of Uruguay.

Oxfam estimates that in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Pakistan and Somalia - which are among the least prepared to deal with the effects of climate change - the number of people suffering from acute hunger has increased from 14 million in 2013 to over 55 million in 2023.

"Climate injustice is widespread. From the many dying from scorching heat in Bangladesh to the thousands forced to flee floods in Pakistan, it is the most vulnerable people - and those least responsible for the climate crisis - who bear the burden, while rich polluting nations continue to do too little too late to help them."

Nuzhat Nueary, Water Insecurity and Climate Policy Coordinator at Oxfam

"Climate change and El Niño weather patterns are driving droughts, floods and cyclones. All these disasters have knock-on effects on people's lives and livelihoods, and together with conflicts, economic shocks and deep inequalities, they have fueled hunger. Ultimately, the mass exodus of people puts pressure on limited water resources and creates further water stress in these countries"

Nuzhat Nueary, Water Insecurity and Climate Policy Coordinator at Oxfam

In Somalia, continuous temperature increase has resulted in more frequent and prolonged droughts, often followed by floods and cyclones. Despite accounting for less than 0.03% of global carbon emissions, Somalia has suffered losses worth billions due to recurrent floods and droughts. The cost of recovery from the recent floods in December alone was estimated at $230 million.

The recent Deyr rains - which followed five consecutive seasons of drought - brought massive flooding, forcing 1.2 million people to flee their homes and killing 118 people. These disasters have compounded the effects of ongoing conflict, political instability and economic shocks, leaving almost half of Somalia's population in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

In Bangladesh, unpredictable cyclones and other water-related disasters forced more than 1.8 million people to leave their homes in 2023. They caused severe damage to infrastructure such as schools, markets and other essential services. The country contributes only 0.56% of global carbon emissions.

"Without crops or income, families have been forced to move, some several times. Those who remain live in constant fear of the future, as cycles of successive disasters have exhausted all their resources and their last ability to cope."

Zerin Ahmed, Oxfam Senior Program Officer in Bangladesh

"Ending human suffering is possible. Rich polluting nations must reduce their emissions and provide adequate climate finance to countries most affected by the climate crisis so they can cope better and rebuild their societies after climate shocks"

Nuzhat Nueary, Water Insecurity and Climate Policy Coordinator at Oxfam

"They must also inject funding into the new fund for losses and damages. It is not a courtesy gesture but an obligation for the damage they have caused. With the right funding, the most affected countries can develop early warning systems and other measures to prepare for and mitigate the effects of climate change, and they can free up resources to invest in social protection to help people cope."

Nuzhat Nueary, Water Insecurity and Climate Policy Coordinator at Oxfam

"Local communities on the frontline of climate change impacts, and vulnerable groups - especially women, youth and indigenous communities - already have proposals for solutions, and those groups need to be the focus of climate decisions, funding and action"

Nuzhat Nueary, Water Insecurity and Climate Policy Coordinator at Oxfam