GENEVA: Nearly 90 million forcibly displaced people are living in countries increasingly exposed to climate-related hazards such as droughts, floods and extreme heat, the United Nations refugee agency has warned ahead of the COP31 climate summit.
In a report released before the UN Climate Change Conference in Antalya, Turkey, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said nearly three-quarters of the world's forcibly displaced population live in countries facing severe climate risks. These include Afghanistan and Bangladesh, where communities are increasingly exposed to extreme weather events.
The report highlights how conflict, forced displacement and climate change are compounding one another, leaving people who have fled violence and persecution particularly vulnerable to environmental threats.
“Climate adaptation in fragile and displacement-affected areas is a matter of survival,” said Anton Leis Garcia, UNHCR's assistant high commissioner for operations. He called for climate financing to reach communities where the need is greatest.
The agency also warned that climate change is making it harder for displaced people to return home and rebuild their lives. More than two-thirds of refugee returns during the first half of 2026 were to countries highly exposed to climate hazards, increasing the risk of renewed displacement.
Syria is among the countries facing these challenges. Nearly four million displaced people have recently returned, but worsening water scarcity and erratic rainfall are threatening recovery. Flooding along the Euphrates River in May also damaged homes and displaced thousands, the report said.
The risks are expected to intensify in parts of Africa. By 2050, one in three refugee settlements across sub-Saharan Africa could experience at least 100 days of dangerous heat every year. In some settlements in Ethiopia, including Helaweyn, extreme heat could persist for more than 200 days annually, raising the risk of heatstroke and premature deaths.
UNHCR also warned that a forecast strong El Niño could worsen climate-related threats and trigger further displacement. Severe flooding in East Africa could displace up to three million people across Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda by the end of 2026.
The agency pointed to a major gap in climate financing, saying only around 10 per cent of global climate finance reaches fragile or conflict-affected countries. It urged governments and climate-finance institutions attending COP31 to increase support for adaptation in communities hosting displaced populations.
COP31 is scheduled to take place in Antalya from November 9 to 20. UNHCR is calling for refugees and other displaced people to be included in national climate plans and climate-financing mechanisms.
With inputs from media reports