GUEST CONTRIBUTION
“Mona opened a restaurant with a little help from IOM. Now she’s able to send her children to school, is creating new jobs and considering expanding.”
Coastal zones in Tunisia and Egypt face increased risks from sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion – a major threat to freshwater supplies. And in Yemen, a country already devastated by years of war, climate change has become a threat multiplier. Droughts, floods, storms of increased ferocity and water scarcity are worsening food insecurity, disrupting rural livelihoods and driving internal displacement. More than four million people remain displaced, with many living in informal settlements without access to clean water, sanitation or healthcare. In response, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is working with local authorities and communities to deliver integrated services – including solar-powered water systems, rehabilitated shelters and climate-resilient infrastructure –
while strengthening conflict-resolution mechanisms to resolve tensions over access to scarce natural resources at community level. These are not just humanitarian interventions; these are investments in stability. Crucially, we are also supporting
community-based disaster risk reduction, helping vulnerable
Climate change, displacement, humanitarian response and development are not separate issues. They are deeply connected. Migration is clearly a humanitarian concern, but it is also a development opportunity and must be supported with the right policies and investment. In Tunisia, IOM is piloting climate- resilient agricultural cooperatives that offer young people an alternative to risky migration. In Sudan, we support natural resource management initiatives to reduce tensions between displaced communities and host populations as part of our peacebuilding activities. In Iraq, we work with local authorities to map environmental hazards and integrate human mobility into urban planning. We can take heart and gain inspiration from migrants and refugees themselves. People like Mona, who fled Sudan for Libya. When she could not find work as a teacher she decided to open a restaurant with a little help from IOM. Now she’s able to send her children to school, is creating new jobs and considering expanding. These efforts show promise, but they are small-scale, local and short-
populations and communities prepare for and recover from disasters triggered by extreme weather events such as storms and flooding. This includes restoring water sources, improving irrigation systems and promoting local climate adaptation plans. Yemen reminds us that climate resilience is not possible without peace. At the same time, it stands as evidence that peace will always be fragile without sustained investment in climate adaptation and development.
Climate change interacts with pre-existing vulnerabilities in Sudan (left) and saltwater intrusion is a threat to livelihoods in Tunisia
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