Children's future in jeopardy as climate change set to create up to 175m young disaster victims every year

The consequences of climate change mean that the lives of up to 175 million children a year will be endangered by floods, drought, earthquakes and tsunamis over the next decade - a potential increase of 40% on the previous decade.

A new report released today by Save the Children UK looks for the first time at how climate change will specifically affect children, who will be hit hardest by increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters. Already in any emergency, half of all those affected are children. Over the next decade, Save the Children estimates that up to 175 million children every year will be affected by climate-related natural disasters compared to 125 million a year between 1995 and 2005. Millions more children will be killed, forced to flee their homes and put at risk from hunger, disease and physical or sexual abuse.

As a response to climate change, Save the Children will be tripling its capacity to respond to emergencies over the next three years and is preparing for a proliferation of smaller emergencies that will not hit the headlines. This trend has already become apparent in 2007; this year Save the Children has already responded to floods in Indonesia and Bolivia, flooding and cyclones in Mozambique.

Children in developing countries, where there are few adequate warning systems or strategies to lower risk, will also be most affected by 'slow-moving' disasters, including temperature extremes, desertification, and a rise in sea level brought by climate change. Small-scale disasters, which are typically overlooked by the international community - will also intensify, most affecting vulnerable communities living rurally, on flood plains or on steep slopes at risk of erosion.

Jasmine Whitbread, Save the Children UK's Chief Executive, said: "Our job is only going to get harder. Children are already bearing the brunt of climate change and there will be millions more children caught up in climate-related natural disasters every year that will urgently need our assistance. The warning bells have been sounding for long enough. Children can't wait. The threat of climate change must be faced head on."

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For copies of the report, spokespeople and more information please contact:

Save the Children UK Media Unit: +44 (0)20 7012 6841
Email address: media@savethechildren.org.uk

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