Humanitarian assistance delivered to war-torn countries must help people adapt to climate change as well as provide for immediate basic needs, a Red Cross official has said.
Clare Dalton, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross mission in the UAE, said humanitarian organisations cannot simply hand out food parcels and think the job is done.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Middle East and North Africa Climate Week on Wednesday, Ms Dalton said methods that worked 25 years ago were no longer fit for purpose, and humanitarian organisations had to think long term about climate change, even in times of urgent and immediate crisis.
“We just can’t hand out food parcels,” Ms Dalton told The National.
“Long-term planning needs to be part of the initial response.”
She added: “And we can't just provide diesel generators or do any other practices that over time might cause more damage to the environment or not necessarily help people adapt to the situation they face,” pointing to how solar power was now used where possible.
The issue came into sharp focus on Wednesday during Mena Climate Week, where a high-level panel discussed ways to deal with climate change in conflict-hit areas in the Middle East.
The ICRC has highlighted how a lack of governance and poor access to finance means tackling climate change is often far down the list of priorities in these areas.
An ICRC and Norwegian Red Cross report in May, for example, warned the combined effects of climate change and armed conflict were creating an alarming mix of humanitarian crises in the Middle East.
The report focused on Iraq, Syria and Yemen, and it called for climate finance for vulnerable communities to be increased.
The impact of conflict
According to the ICRC, 60 per cent of the 25 countries most vulnerable to climate change were also affected by conflict.
Even under normal circumstances, tackling climate issues is hard enough, never mind in a situation such as Gaza.
Ms Dalton urged parties there to follow international humanitarian law to protect civilians and critical civilian infrastructure, which can lead to better outcomes in terms of adapting to climate change.
“If you destroy essential infrastructure during a conflict – whether energy or water – the cost of putting that back together is enormous,” she said.
“If water infrastructure is damaged, for example, then it can have a knock-on impact on agriculture production. It is not just a financial cost but it is a cost on people's livelihoods.
“[But] if international humanitarian law is respected … the damage will be less.”
Cop28, the crucial climate talks that start in Dubai next month, will have a day dedicated to health, relief, recovery and peace, and Ms Dalton said this is an important move as humanitarian assistance, conflict and climate are all linked.
“People in the region live with this day-to-day reality,” she said.
“However, does that mean that people are all agreed on solutions? Not necessarily. Bringing fragility and conflict-affected countries on to the agenda is really important.”
Call for 'meaningful action'
As to what would be considered a good outcome for the ICRC at the climate summit, Ms Dalton said it would be beneficial to see some kind of “meaningful action” to support people in conflict-affected countries, from scaling up climate finance to ramping up adaptation, including encouraging the use of heat-tolerant crops or boosting water efficiency.
The ICRC, for example, has worked previously in Gaza in wastewater reuse and groundwater recharging to help stop the intrusion of salinity as well as programmes to support irrigation systems.
“We have to try … to help people in places affected by armed conflict mitigate or adapt to the impact of climate change,” she said.
“It is not easy. It is an existential crisis. However, the cost of inaction is higher.”
Middle East and North Africa Climate Week runs until Thursday in Riyadh.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche
“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox
“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite
“I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy
“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra
The five pillars of Islam
More on animal trafficking
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
WHAT%20ARE%20THE%20PRODUCTS%20WITHIN%20THE%20THREE%20MAJOR%20CATEGORIES%3F
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAdvanced%20materials%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20specifically%20engineered%20to%20exhibit%20novel%20or%20enhanced%20properties%2C%20that%20confer%20superior%20performance%20relative%20to%20conventional%20materials%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAdvanced%20components%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20includes%20semiconductor%20components%2C%20such%20as%20microprocessors%20and%20other%20computer%20chips%2C%20and%20computer%20vision%20components%20such%20as%20lenses%20and%20image%20sensors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAdvanced%20products%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20includes%20personal%20electronics%2C%20smart%20home%20devices%20and%20space%20technologies%2C%20along%20with%20industry-enabling%20products%20such%20as%20robots%2C%203D%20printing%20equipment%20and%20exoskeletons%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20Strategy%26amp%3B%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE%20ILT20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMarquee%20players%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMoeen%20Ali%2C%20Andre%20Russell%2C%20Dawid%20Malan%2C%20Wanindu%20Hasiranga%2C%20Sunil%20Narine%2C%20Evin%20Lewis%2C%20Colin%20Munro%2C%20Fabien%20Allen%2C%20Sam%20Billings%2C%20Tom%20Curran%2C%20Alex%20Hales%2C%20Dushmantha%20Chameera%2C%20Shimron%20Hetmyer%2C%20Akeal%20Hosein%2C%20Chris%20Jordan%2C%20Tom%20Banton%2C%20Sandeep%20Lamichhane%2C%20Chris%20Lynn%2C%20Rovman%20Powell%2C%20Bhanuka%20Rajapaksa%2C%20Mujeeb%20Ul%20Rahman%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInternational%20players%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ELahiru%20Kumara%2C%20Seekugge%20Prassanna%2C%20Charith%20Asalanka%2C%20Colin%20Ingram%2C%20Paul%20Stirling%2C%20Kennar%20Lewis%2C%20Ali%20Khan%2C%20Brandon%20Glover%2C%20Ravi%20Rampaul%2C%20Raymon%20Reifer%2C%20Isuru%20Udana%2C%20Blessing%20Muzarabani%2C%20Niroshan%20Dickwella%2C%20Hazaratullah%20Zazai%2C%20Frederick%20Klassen%2C%20Sikandar%20Raja%2C%20George%20Munsey%2C%20Dan%20Lawrence%2C%20Dominic%20Drakes%2C%20Jamie%20Overton%2C%20Liam%20Dawson%2C%20David%20Wiese%2C%20Qais%20Ahmed%2C%20Richard%20Gleeson%2C%20James%20Vince%2C%20Noor%20Ahmed%2C%20Rahmanullah%20Gurbaz%2C%20Navin%20Ul%20Haq%2C%20Sherfane%20Rutherford%2C%20Saqib%20Mahmood%2C%20Ben%20Duckett%2C%20Benny%20Howell%2C%20Ruben%20Trumpelman%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
