Environmental Refugees: the discussion we need to have

Two of the most hotly debated topics in Australian news media are that of refugee intake and the impacts of climate change. So why is it that we never hear of them together? The United Nations High Commission for Refugees says that 36 million people globally were displaced by natural disasters in 2009 – the last year that a report of this nature was produced. While we have always had, and always will, have natural disasters, climate change is increasing their severity. Scientists are predicting that the number of environmentally displaced persons could rise to anywhere from 50-200 million by the year 2050. More than just natural disasters, climate change will displace people from their regions due to drought, flood, and sea level rises in coastal regions.

This is an issue that needs to be discussed more, and in greater detail, in Australian media and culture in order for a solution to be found and agreed upon before immediate action is required. Khalid Koser is the Executive Director of the Global Community Engagement and resilience Fund. He says that now is the time to plan for the arrival of environmental refugees arriving in Australia.

“This is an opportunity to plan ahead of time to ensure Australia has as much control as possible on the number of migrates that may be admitted, their profile, the conditions of their arrival, the length of their stay, and the rights to which they will be entitled,” he said.

Currently environmental refugees are not protected under any international law and their migration can cause social and economic problems, particularly when people from regional or coastal areas are forced to migrate to urban areas where their skills, i.e. as a farmer, aren’t required or there is a clash with local ethnic groups.

No relief for Philippines as Typhoon Maysak weakens

Despite predictions the category five typhoon will weaken to a tropical storm before making landfall on Sunday morning, Philippine authorities are preparing for the worst.

Interior Undersecretary Austere Panadero said police and local government units are preparing to move thousands of people before the worst of the storm hits, even if it means forced evacuations.
The weather bureau is warning that the former “super typhoon” could cause landslides, flash flooding, high tides, costal erosion and coastal flooding in the worst hit areas.

Maysak is expected to hit approximately 300km north of the Philippine capital Manila, and should have minimal impact but there is still potential for flash flooding and power outages due to fallen trees in the city.

Typhoon Maysak is currently situated about 455km east of Manila and is anticipated to make landfall over the central or northern part of the main Philippine Island, Luzon, around 9am local time on Sunday.

Strong winds and rains are expected to hit the eastern facing coasts on Saturday evening.
The system currently has sustained winds of 150km per hour with gusts of up to 185km per hour down from its peak of almost 260km per hour on Tuesday.

It is predicted that Maysak will continue to weaken before making landfall due to a combination of dry air and wind shear.

The Philippiness will be the second region to take the brunt of Maysak after the system hit the small Micronesian island of Ulithi on Tuesday.

The main Micronesian state of Chuuk declared a state of emergency after the island was devastated by the Typhoon while it was at its peak on Tuesday.

Ulithi has a population of less than 1000 and at least five people were killed by the disaster.
Guampdn.com reports that at least 95% of houses in the region were destroyed, leaving thousand displaced.