Ranks of 'environmental refugees' swell, calls grow for better definition, recognition, support

Public release date: 11-Nov-2005

Contact: Terry Collins
terrycollins@rogers.com
416-538-8712
United Nations University

International Day for Disaster Reduction: Wednesday Oct. 12

Amid predictions that by 2010 the world will need to cope with as many as 50 million people escaping the effects of creeping environmental deterioration, United Nations University experts say the international community urgently needs to define, recognize and extend support to this new category of 'refugee'.

In a statement to mark the International Day for Disaster Reduction (October 12), UNU's Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) in Bonn says such problems as sea level rise, expanding deserts and catastrophic weather-induced flooding have already contributed to large permanent migrations and could eventually displace hundreds of millions.