A new report from UNICEF finds that over 43 million children were internally displaced in the past six years due to extreme weather events, the vast majority caused by floods and storms. The U.N. agency notes displacement can negatively impact children’s education, healthcare, food security and health. Children are also more likely to be separated from their families following a major disaster, increasing the risks of exploitation and child trafficking. UNICEF warns the situation will only worsen as the climate crisis intensifies.

Verena Knaus: “The report’s analysis also looks into the future, and it actually projects a truly terrifying future. With every additional one degree of warming, the IPCC believes the global risk of displacement by flooding — the largest driver — could rise by 50%. We are not prepared for this climate-changed future. And the displacement of children is barely on the radar of leaders.”