SHABAN BILAL (CAIRO)

This year has seen natural climate disasters that have resulted in unprecedented tolls for millions of people worldwide. Earthquakes, hurricanes, storms, floods, and forest fires across the globe caused thousands of deaths, injuries, and displacement of millions.

One of the countries most impacted by these disasters was the Libyan city of Derna, which was hit by Hurricane Daniel on December 10. The hurricane caused severe flooding, killing over 20,000 and displacing more than 40,000 individuals, while approximately 8,500 are still missing.

Climate change and water resources expert Dr. Osama Salam confirmed to Aletihad that 2023 had witnessed a series of destructive natural disasters causing significant human and material losses.

The expert referred to the devastating earthquake in Turkey, which killed thousands; the wildfires in Europe that resulted in the destruction of big forest and agricultural areas; floods in China that killed and injured thousands; and the severe heatwave that struck the US in July, and killing over 100 people.

In February, a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Turkey and Syria. The earthquake, one of the strongest in decades for both countries, resulted in subsequent aftershocks that killed over 50,000 people in Turkey and thousands in Syria, causing extensive destruction and displacing hundreds of thousands.

Morocco also experienced a major 7.2-magnitude earthquake in the Al Hoceima region on September 8, claiming over 3,000 lives, injuring 26,000, and causing the collapse of numerous buildings.

The Asian continent was another victim of various climatic conditions that claimed many lives during the first half of 2023.

Afghanistan went through a severe cold wave in January, with temperatures dropping to 33 degrees Celsius below zero, claiming the lives of over 160 people.

Additionally, Cyclone Mocha struck Myanmar in May, killing approximately 500 people and resulting in damages estimated at $1.5 billion.

India faced natural disasters as well, including Cyclone Biparjoy, which caused dozens of deaths back in June.

The country also experienced an intense heatwave in the same month, leading to power outages and the deaths of nearly 170 people, while unprecedented July floods have claimed more than 100 lives.

China was another country to suffer significant losses due to frequent heavy rainfall, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, droughts, snowstorms, and forest fires throughout 2023.

The rains and floods have affected about 95 million people within the country, resulting in the death and disappearance of 792 individuals. Approximately 5.26 million people were relocated to safer places, causing direct economic losses estimated at around $44 billion.

The year 2023 witnessed the most intense wildfires in decades, and the Mediterranean region was among the most impacted.

Greece experienced a wave of fires that destroyed around 35,000 hectares of land, along with Algeria, Tunisia, and Turkey.

Greece incurred the largest damage, amounting to $1.8 billion, as over 161,000 hectares of land were destroyed by August 30. Spain was the second most affected, with more than 84,000 hectares burned, costing an estimated $941 million.

Meanwhile, the Amazon rainforest witnessed 8,344 fires during the first half of 2023, the highest number in 16 years, all of which were attributed to climate change and severe droughts.

The African continent was also severely affected by climate change, with Somalia bearing the brunt.

According to the United Nations, about half of Somalia’s population relies on humanitarian aid, and the drought was expected to affect 8.3 million people.

UNICEF estimates that 43,000 people, half of whom are children under the age of five, have lost their lives. In recent months, Somalia has also been facing severe floods due to the El Nino weather phenomenon, affecting hundreds of thousands of people.