Dear John,

Can you imagine how you’d cope in a natural disaster? Now think what it would be like if you’d already lost your home, been forced to flee violence and persecution or even crossed borders in search of safety?

Here are just a few of the locations around the world where UNHCR teams are helping protect displaced people against extreme weather and hostile climates right now.

You might not know it, but our teams are in Haiti right now following a massive 7.2 magnitude earthquake in August.

With at least 650,000 people in need of emergency assistance, we’ve been working with partners and local communities to identify the most vulnerable people, including survivors of gender-based violence, members of the LGBTI community and the elderly.

UNHCR is providing shelter and ensuring families can access lifesaving facilities and that they have a safe place to rest and recover. We’re delivering essential items like blankets, solar lamps, and sleeping mats to people who’ve lost everything. We’re also helping stop the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases like cholera.

Every year – from June to October – Bangladesh suffers from heavy monsoon rains. However, climate change is making the monsoon season more extreme and unpredictable, leading to flooding and the destruction of roads, homes and public buildings.

That’s where expert staff like Ehsanul come in. Ehsanul, an assistant environment officer with UNHCR, is helping to restore the environment around Rohingya refugee settlements in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh to help mitigate disasters like flooding using nature-based solutions.

People in Afghanistan are not only facing an increasingly volatile situation, but the country is suffering from severe drought and food scarcity. This is the second drought in just four years, likely caused by the worsening climate crisis.

UNHCR is determined to stay in Afghanistan and help Afghan families for the long haul, but with more than half a million people displaced from their homes so far this year, this is becoming more challenging by the day.

Kind Regards,

Breno Valentini,
International Supporter Care
UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency