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By Ethan Wong
In November 2023, the Military Responses to Climate Hazards (MiRCH) identified 10 military responses to climate change-related hazards, including wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and landslides. The tracker documented deployments in 8 countries.
In East Africa, intense rainfall throughout November has led to extensive flooding in the region, particularly in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. The ongoing rain and floods have killed dozens and displaced nearly a million people. National defense forces in all three countries deployed to conduct rescue operations, transport supplies, and assist with relief efforts. The catastrophic flooding follows the Horn of Africa’s worst drought in four decades, which intensified the flash floods because dry soil is much less absorbent, highlighting the compounding risks of extreme weather events. With the floods destroying crops and livestock, the incident also demonstrates how climate change can deepen humanitarian emergencies, exacerbating the acute food crisis caused by the drought.
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Read the full post at The Center for Climate & Security.
