Climate stressors such as drought, floods, wildfires and cyclones are fuelling migration and conflicts among border communities in the Horn of Africa, experts have warned.
Speaking during the launch of ‘Managing the impacts of Environmental change & conflict mobility in Eastern Africa project’ in Nairobi, Arid and Semi-arid lands & regional Development principal secretary Harsama Kello challenged development partners to not only focus on proposing climate policies but also come up with practical solutions geared towards addressing climate shocks especially in Asal counties.
Arid and Semi- arid lands make up 80 percent of Kenya’s land mass yet these lands suffer the most when it comes to impacts of Climate change.
Environment stakeholders through the released evidence based research in Nairobi, dubbed ‘Managing the impacts of Environmental change & conflict mobility in Eastern Africa’ MECMEA identified the specific climate stressors that fuel trans-boundary migration and conflicts being witnessed especially among the border communities.
The group led by Panafricare country director Dominic Godana, emphasized the need to understand the nexus between conflict, mobility and climate change so as to mitigate the effects of climate change on border communities in the horn of Africa.
The stakeholders also intend that the MECMEA project to form part of policy and regulation on climate mobility and migration within the 7 participating ccountries including Kenya in the horn of Africa.
Asals and regional development principal secretary, Harsama Kello urged development partners to broaden their focus beyond policy formulation to provide practical climate solutions and the financial muscle to kick start climate projects especially in Asal areas.
The Ps added that Asal areas are facing double tragedy in that, they lag behind in development and when hit by impacts of climate change then competition for the scarce resources intensifies leading to internal displacement, trans-boundary migration and conflicts
