“Without additional support, hunger and poverty could skyrocket, not only for those fleeing violence, but also for communities in neighboring countries that have received Sudanese refugees,” he points out.
7. The Central Sahel
In another vein, the agency points out that the worsening conflict in the central Sahel region of Africa “has caused almost 3 million people to leave their homes in search of safety. This, added to a global food crisis, has generated a humanitarian catastrophe.”
Although neighboring communities have welcomed the refugees, overcrowding has increased pressure on resources, causing tensions and instability in the region.
“If this violence and instability spread to coastal countries such as Senegal, Sierra Leone and Guinea, the consequences could be catastrophic,” indicates the CRS.
8. Spread of diseases due to climate change
Finally, the Catholic Church agency explains that “while the immediate threat of the COVID-19 pandemic has decreased, there has been an increase in preventable diseases around the world, such as measles, tuberculosis and malaria.” .
According to him World malaria report 2023published by the World Health Organization, the disease will not only be a persistent health threat, but also a painful reminder of the complex relationship between infectious diseases and climate change.
“As rising temperatures expand the geographic reach of malaria, the urgency to address this increasingly complicated crisis becomes paramount,” he says.